Another Romanian City Advances Ban on Slot Machines

(AsiaGameHub) –   Elected officials in Bacău have voted to ban gambling at physical venues.

Romania — Another Romanian city has taken steps to ban slot machines. During a council meeting held today (April 1), local representatives in Bacău voted to outlaw gambling activities at physical venues. Of the 22 councillors in attendance, 19 backed the ban.

The ruling specifies that no new gambling halls or slot machine venues will be allowed to operate within the city limits. For existing license holders, the prohibition will take effect on the date their current licences expire. Operators who continue offering gambling services after their licenses lapse could face fines of 4,000 to 5,000 lei (€750 to €980) per incident.

This measure was approved under new legislation that gives Romanian municipalities the authority to regulate gaming halls. Mayors across multiple cities have signaled they will pursue similar bans after Slatina last month became the first city to ban gambling halls and sports betting. These officials will need to persuade their local councillors.

In Bacău, mayor Lucian Daniel Stanciu-Viziteu hailed today’s vote as a “major milestone” for the local community. In a Facebook post, he stated: “We did it! Gambling activity is prohibited in physical locations within the municipality of Bacău. This is a major milestone for our community, which shows that we want a healthy future for Bacău. I thank the local councillors who acted responsibly today and agreed with my proposal to end the activity in physical locations in the city.”

He emphasized that existing venues will shut down gradually as their authorisations expire, giving employees enough time to look for alternative employment.