Timișoara Council Unanimously Bans New Gambling Hall Licences as Local Restrictions Accelerate
TL;DR — Timișoara Council voted to ban new gaming hall licences, with existing ones expiring by 2027 and only the National Lottery permitted thereafter. The move follows Iași’s full ban and uses powers from National Emergency Ordinance 7/2026. Slot authorisations fell to 2,337 from 18,981 and total devices dropped from 45,659 to 29,014.
SCCG Take — Local restrictions are contracting Romania’s land-based sector faster than national policy alone would achieve. Operators should model licence expirations through 2027 and adjust footprints accordingly.
Timișoara Council has voted unanimously to issue no new licences for land-based gaming halls. Mayor Dominic Fritz confirmed that slot-machine venues will receive no fresh authorisations from the ONJN, though existing halls can continue operating until their current licences expire.
Fritz announced the decision on Facebook: “From today, it is official, slot machine halls can no longer be authorised in Timișoara.” He added: “The Local Council approved the decision through which we are completely banning gambling halls in the city.” He credited USR parliamentary colleagues for advancing the measure to local level.
The city will see its gaming halls close progressively, with all licences expiring by 2027. After that date only National Lottery services will be permitted. Earlier this year 173 locations in Timișoara held gambling authorisations.
Local Bans Gain Momentum Under 2026 Ordinance
Timișoara follows the county of Iași, which last month became the first to impose a complete ban on slot machine venues. Both actions rely on powers granted to local authorities by National Emergency Ordinance 7/2026, adopted in February.
According to Focus Gaming News, the prohibitions have produced a cooling effect on new approvals even though they remain a minority approach. 2,337 slot-machine stations were authorised between February and May 2026, compared with 18,981 during the same period a year earlier. Romania recorded 45,659 authorised gaming devices in 2025. That number has fallen to 29,014, representing roughly 64 per cent of last year’s total.
Regulatory Transition at ONJN
Valentin-Ioan Tomescu has been named the new president of the ONJN, replacing Vlad-Cristian Soare who was removed after just over a year in charge. The leadership change arrives as local councils continue to exercise newly granted authority over land-based gaming. Operators face a shrinking authorised estate with no clear route to replacement licences in affected jurisdictions.
Reporting: Focus Gaming News
Generated by SCCG’s automated editorial system from published source reporting. SCCG Management holds editorial responsibility.
Local councils now control Romania's land-based footprint, and the next two years will decide who stays and who exits.
We've tracked Romania since market opening, and this shift from national to municipal authority is the fastest land-based contraction we've seen in Central Europe. Operators with multi-site footprints need exit plans for restricted jurisdictions and reallocation strategies for capital trapped in expiring licences. The 2027 cliff is real, and the window to reposition is narrow.
- Timișoara joins Iași in banning new gaming hall licences under Emergency Ordinance 7/2026; all slots expire by 2027
- Slot authorisations dropped 87% year-over-year (2,337 vs 18,981); total devices fell from 45,659 to 29,014
- New ONJN president Tomescu inherits fragmented regulatory landscape as local councils gain veto power
SCCG angle: SCCG has relationships across Romania's licensed operator base and the advisory firms managing their restructurings. We're connecting clients to buyers for expiring licences, alternative venue formats that may survive local bans, and online pivots where land-based economics no longer work. If you're holding Romanian assets, we can help you move them before 2027.
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