S-a pus lacătul peste cei care plăteau greu la buget. Afacerile ilegale, în schimb, au rămas deschise non-stop

The implementation of OUG 7/2026 aimed to regulate the gambling industry but led to a significant contraction of the legal market while illegal operations thrived. Local authorization requirements were introduced without transitional norms, causing a halt in the licensing process. As a result, over 1,300 licensed locations closed, affecting around 8,500 jobs and leading to an estimated loss of over 320 million euros annually in tax revenues. The situation has created a legal vacuum that benefits unregulated operators, undermining consumer protection. A comparison with Cyprus shows that a well-structured regulatory framework can yield positive economic impacts. Urgent legislative intervention is needed to address the transition period and ensure compliance with local regulations.