A Bucharest official has proposed the relocation of all operational gambling halls to a place outside the Romanian capital
Bucharest could relocate its gambling halls to a “neighborhood of gambling” located outside the Romanian capital, if a proposal by a general council survives a vote in the city’s General Council, local news outlet the Romania Insider reports.
According to data quoted by local media, the city is home to about 1,250 gambling and betting halls. General Councilor Catalin Lucian Illiescu has called for the relocation of gambling facilities that operate at the ground floor of apartment buildings outside the city. His proposal also stated that gambling halls should not be permitted at less than 200 meters from schools, churches, and other public institutions.
The official believes that the move could help the city fight problem gambling and gambling addiction issues fueled by the easy access of gamblers to halls. Mr. Illiescu’s proposal needs to be approved by the city’s General Counsel in order to take effect.
News about Bucharest potentially moving to ban gambling halls on its territory emerge amid an ongoing crackdown on gambling in several Balkan states. Last week, Kosovo suspended gambling for a decade after two casino staff were murdered earlier in March. A nearly full ban on gambling came into force in neighboring Albania on January 1, 2019.
Concerns over Gambling Hall Relocation’s Impact
Local news outlet G4media.ro reported citing information from Romania’s National Office for Gambling that Mr. Iliescu project would have quite a negative impact on the nation’s gambling industry. In the first place, the relocation of Bucharest’s gambling halls could significantly reduce the taxes collected by the state. In addition, multiple jobs could be cut as a result from the proposed clampdown.
Meanwhile, Voluntari, a town located not far from the Romanian capital, could too move to ban gaming and betting halls. The town’s Mayor has spearheaded a proposal similar to that of Mr. Iliescu.
Voluntari residents will be able to voice their opinion on the proposed gambling halls ban at a townwide referendum that will take place on May 26. The European Parliament election in Romania will be held on the same day as well as a national justice referendum.
Voluntari’s Mayor Florentin Pandele has told local news outlets that by setting a May 26 date for their local gambling referendum, they did not intent to counter the national justice referendum, and only wanted to cut costs.
Bucharest is the second European capital to have revealed plans to crack down on its gambling halls after a Riga City Council Committee supported last month a plan for a draft decree that would revoke the licenses of more than 200 gambling halls currently operating in the Latvian capital.
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