On 20 May, Jan Řehola, Director of the Institute for Gambling Regulation, attended the international FEDBET 2026 conference in Bucharest, jointly organized by FEDBET – Federația Organizatorilor de Jocuri de Noroc and ROMSLOT – Asociația Organizatorilor și Producătorilor de Sloturi.
The conference brought together representatives of public administration, experts, and industry stakeholders to discuss the future of gambling regulation in Romania. The main topic was the development of the regulatory framework following the adoption of Government Emergency Ordinance No. 7/2026, which entrusted local councils with powers related to authorising the operation of gambling. The discussions also focused on the economic impact of bans on land-based venues, the risks of inconsistent enforcement of rules at the local level, and the need for a coherent national regulatory framework.
During the panel discussion, the Institute presented the Czech experience with gambling regulation and its key projects focused on prevention and player protection. These included the IRIS technological platform, designed for the early detection of risky player behaviour, as well as analytical insights from the Black Book of Illegal Gambling.
The debate in Bucharest showed that regulation, prevention, and risk reduction are exceptionally complex issues. It also confirmed that the state should not give up its responsibility by simply shifting it to municipalities. Local governments can play an important role, but only within a clear, predictable, and unified national framework.
“Setting the basic rules and national addiction policy must remain primarily the responsibility of the state. Only a centralised and comprehensible approach creates a stable environment in which social norms can naturally develop. These norms often influence people’s behaviour more effectively than laws or local ordinances themselves. The role of municipalities is important, but they need a strong and unified framework from the state,” said Jan Řehola, Director of the IPRH.
The conclusion of the conference was clear: the sustainable way forward is effective regulation, not blanket bans. Functional rules must be based on data, expertise, and cross-sector cooperation. Only in this way can we build a safe and stable market that protects players, limits the space for illegal gambling, and at the same time enables the fair operation of the legal industry.
