Romania’s National Audiovisual Council (CNA) voted recently to support the provisions against gambling and wagering ads contained in the draft law that was sent to the Romanian parliament last fall.
CNA regulates television and radio in Romania. Its vote to support the ad bans was unanimous. The final decision on this bill will be made by the Chamber of Deputies. So far, no vote has been scheduled.
The bill, Law no. 504/2002, has wide support from all major Romanian political parties. All forms of audiovisual advertising for casinos and sports betting platforms, i.e. any games of chance, would be prohibited. It would amend Law No. 148/2000 on Ads. Violations would be subject to heavy fines.
In a statement to Gambling News, CNA member Mircea Toma explained that members had been influenced by a World Health Organization report that listed problem gambling as one of “extremely serious mental illnesses.”
“An increasing number of gambling related incidents such as suicide by persons who had been financial ruined by gambling losses or families that split up due to gambling also prompted the vote,” she said.
Toma told Gambling News it was possible that the “influence of the big operators” might try to delay the vote in Parliament.
