The Romanian chapter of international NGO Save the Children has called for urgent reforms to protect minors against gambling addiction and harms, urging Romanian authorities to copy underage protections applied across EU states. 

A study put forward by the organisation claimed that 14% of surveyed children admitted to having gambled at one point, while 40% of the total know of a peer who gambles. What’s more, seven out of 10 respondents said they’ve been made aware of gambling through public advertisements.

As a result, Save the Children has urged Romanian policymakers to act immediately and protect minors by introducing a number of gambling restrictions “in the following weeks or months”.

The reforms that the NGO is calling for include a blanket ban on advertising across all media outlets and in public, a ban on gambling promotions by celebrities and influencers, a minimum allowed distance between gaming halls and schools, raising the minimum age for players to 21, as well as strengthening Romania’s national self-exclusion system.

These were discussed at a Parliament roundtable where Save the Children representatives sat down with various public institutions, politicians, and child healthcare specialists.

Gabriela Alexandrescu, President of Save the Children Romania, said: “We must be aware of the real risks of gambling addiction and the destructive pathological behaviors it generates. 

“It is imperative to completely eliminate gambling advertising, limit the spaces dedicated to these activities, and even prohibit gambling for people under 21.”

Adding to its case, the NGO said that similar restrictions were already being rolled out across other countries like Italy, Moldova, Belgium, and Greece.

“Save the Children recalls that other European states have already adopted similar measures: Italy and the Republic of Moldova have completely banned gambling advertising, and countries such as Belgium, Greece, Lithuania or Ukraine have raised the age threshold to 21 years.”

MP Raluca Turcan supported Alexandrescu’s position by commenting: “It is time to make better and firmer decisions. There are already several legislative initiatives in Parliament, but, for various reasons, they are blocked. I believe that we can no longer afford any delays.

“Gambling advertisements must not invade children’s space. It is vital to ban not only gaming halls, but also billboards and advertisements near schools, parks, playgrounds, campuses, hospitals or churches.”

Gambling sector on the case, bigger fish left to fry

While gambling is often being portrayed as the harbinger of risks to minors, it should also be noted that alcohol and cigarette consumption rates among Romanian youth are also worryingly high.

A 2024 report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) revealed that Romanians aged 15 and over consume an average of 17 litres of alcohol per year – with the global average being 5.5 litres.

Youth smoking rates in Romania are also among the highest in Europe, with a Youth Barometer 2024 study reporting that the share of young people who smoke has increased from 29% in 2018 to 41% in 2024.

Yet, gambling is the sector that appears to be making headlines on a daily basis. Being a frequent target of such a high level of scrutiny, the gambling sector has become one of the most regulated opposite to popular beliefs.

In Romania specifically, some of the measures that Save the Children is calling for have already been looked at and assessed months prior.

For one, celebrities have already been banned from participating in gambling promotions thanks to a decree issued by the National Audiovisual Council back in June.

On the topic of self-exclusion, the licensed gambling market itself came forward to call for better regulation when Maarten Haijer, Secretary General of the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA), addressed the nation earlier in May.

2025 has seen Romania gambling hit by regulatory scandals, following the blowback of the €1bn auditing failure of the national regulator, ONJN.

Newly elected President Nicușor Dan has come under pressure from coalition partners to abolish the ONJN altogether and transfer oversight of gambling to a newly established regulatory authority with stronger governance and transparency safeguards.