The government has proposed a new framework for regulatory charges and a tax on gambling winnings.
In Romania, the new coalition government has published draft plans to revise the framework for gambling tax. The PNL (Pro-European Alliance of National Liberal Party), PSD (Social Democratic Party), and USR (Save Romania Union) plan to introduce a progressive tax rate on player winnings. This move follows the appointment of Ilie Bolojan as prime minister.
Now, the Draft Law on Fiscal-Budgetary Measures is undergoing public consultation. It also includes wider proposals to raise VAT, as well as health contributions. According to the Ministry of Finance, it meets EU deficit reduction criteria.
Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare has described the initiative as urgent. He says it aims to restore fairness and reduce illegal market activity. This follows last year’s ban on gambling in small towns with populations under 15,000. The aim is to generate an extra €1 billion yearly under the PNRR or National Recovery and Resilience Plan.
Under the new model, the government will tax winnings of up to 10,000 lei (€1,970) at 10 per cent. It will tax winnings between 10,001 and 66,750 lei at 1,000 lei plus 20 per cent of the amount above 10,000 lei. For winnings above 66,750 lei, it will apply a tax of 12,350 lei plus 40 per cent of the amount exceeding that threshold. For high-yield games like slots, poker, and lottery to prevent pyramiding, there will be a deductible threshold.
Across the industry, license fees are to rise. Retail betting fees will increase from 21% to 23%, while the online gambling permit fee will rise from 21% to 27%. Slot machine fees will go up from €5,300 to €5,800 per machine. Additionally, the sumptuary tax on slots will double from €500 to €1,000. On lottery revenue, the tax is 6.5 per cent.
