Romania’s National Audiovisual Council (NAC) has officially passed a new regulation. It bans celebrities from appearing in gambling advertisements across all major media platforms. These include television, radio, and various forms of social media such as YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. The NAC faced heavy criticism from the gambling industry and advertising stakeholders. Despite this, it adopted the regulation. It will take effect in three months as part of the amended Audiovisual Code.
The updated code now clearly prohibits advertisers from featuring public, cultural, scientific, or sports figures in gambling ads. This applies if their image, popularity, or online presence could influence others to gamble.
The gambling industry strongly opposed the rule. It claims the regulation unfairly targets legal promotions and overlooks broader issues like lack of education, limited addiction support, and weak enforcement of responsible gambling policies.
The NAC introduced the original draft in March 2025. It gave industry representatives a 30-day window to submit objections and recommendations before finalizing the measure.
One of Romania’s most iconic athletes, tennis legend Ilie Năstase, condemned the decision in an interview with ProSport. “Public figures are allowed to live, right? Are we allowed to work? You’re stopping me from working? I don’t understand the motivation!” he said. “We’re in Romania—nothing surprises me anymore. We have families too!”
He continued, questioning the logic behind the rule: “Then football shouldn’t be allowed sponsorships either. You shouldn’t be allowed to advertise anything. If I promote a soft drink to earn a living, should I stop just because someone dislikes it?”
Romania now joins several European countries tightening gambling ad restrictions to protect vulnerable groups, particularly young people, while encouraging more responsible and ethical marketing practices across the industry.
