Romania Slot Machine Approvals Drop Under Local Rules
The number of authorised slot machine stations in Romania fell sharply during the first months of 2026.
Between February and May 2026, authorities approved 2,337 stations. This was down from 18,981 during the same period in 2025, according to data reported by Profit.ro.
The fall followed the introduction of Emergency Ordinance 7/2026. The new rules give local councils more power to allow or ban gambling businesses in their areas.
Romania authorised 45,659 gaming machines in 2025. However, only 29,014 of those machines are still operating, equal to about 64% of the previous total.
Most local authorities have not yet made a decision. Only 90 of around 3,100 administrative areas have approved local gambling rules, despite the 60-day deadline ending more than two months ago.
Among those 90 areas, 35 decided to ban gambling, while 55 allowed operators to continue their activities.
The lower number of approvals has also reduced government income. Operators paid RON 300 million in authorisation fees between February and May 2026, compared with RON 485 million during the same period last year.
This means Romania’s slot sector has already become smaller before most local councils have decided whether gambling can continue in their areas.
