Romania’s gambling sector is facing further turmoil following Parliament’s approval of Prime Minister Marcel Ciolaku’s decree to enforce the \u2018Legea P\u0103c\u0103nelelor\u2019 (The Pannel Law). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yesterday, Prime Minister Ciolaku declared victory for the Romanian PSD-i-PNL coalition government, achieving approval for a ban on gambling establishments in cities with a population of less than 15,000 people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The law was passed by vote in the Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday afternoon, with the result: 243 votes in favor of the law, four abstentions and two deputies who did not vote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Romanian news sources, Prime Minister Ciolaku sped up the process of passing the law by signing the draft as an \u201corder\u201d to facilitate its passage through the Chamber of Deputies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Parliament’s progressive decision to ban gambling establishments applies to retail and entertainment establishments with slot machines in small towns and rural areas with a population of less than 15,000 people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prime Minister Ciolaku praised this decision, saying: \u201cThe good old days of those who profited greedily by selling people\u2019s illusions are over. The Parliament voted today to remove gambling slums from more than 90 percent of the localities in Romania.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n