The Moldovan Parliament has approved the first reading of a draft law that will allow advertising for low-risk gambling activities. This proposal effectively lifts the total ban on gambling advertising but introduces specific and strict conditions.
Broadcast and audiovisual advertisements will be permitted to air between 10:00 PM and 7:00 AM, as well as during live broadcasts of sports events provided by national operators. Outdoor advertisements will be allowed for games such as lotteries and sports betting, provided they do not exceed A4 format in size and are displayed exclusively at retail locations.
After coming to power in 2021, The Party of Action and Solidarity introduced a complete ban on gambling advertising. However, it now proposes allowing certain types of advertising under strict regulations. The initiative was prepared by MPs Radu Marian and Dorian Istratii in response to challenges faced during the implementation of the full ban.
The authors emphasize that in many European countries, betting advertisements are allowed, including during broadcasts of international sports events. Moldova’s ban, therefore, makes the broadcasting of international sports events potentially unlawful.
Under the proposed changes, the National Lottery of Moldova will be allowed to publish lottery results on its website. All advertising materials will be required to include warnings about the potential negative impact of gambling, which must account for at least 20% of the airtime or space of the advertisement.
“Most restrictions on advertising will remain in place,” Marian said.
“The most intrusive advertising, such as advertising on the internet and on street banners, will remain prohibited. Also, the ban on advertising for games of chance with the greatest social risk, such as automatic machines, slots, casinos and others, will remain.”
The draft law still needs to pass a second reading in parliament. Previously, the opposition criticized this initiative, reminding that in 2021, “one of the ruling party’s deputies, who is now the Minister of Economy, proudly stated that restricting gambling advertising was a good deed for the country.”
In July, in neighboring Romania, President Klaus Iohannis signed a decree to create a new strategy to combat addiction, including gambling harm. Drafted by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Justice, the decree includes a proposal to establish eight regional addiction treatment centers, one in each of the country’s eight administrative regions.
Romanian MPs have expressed concerns about gambling addiction. However, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu’s executive order banning gambling venues in small towns faced challenges when the Supreme Court ruled that it required a constitutional review.
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