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The Romanian National Audio Visual Council's (NAVC) plan to heavily restrict gambling advertising in all forms is still on track, but a key vote on its proposals has been delayed.
Among the proposed changes, gambling advertisements would not be allowed to feature public, cultural, scientific, sports personalities or social-media influencers.
During recent consultations held at the end of May on the proposed changes, members of the NAVC reportedly claimed the country should replicate France’s policy by banning influencers from gambling advertising and introducing fines and imprisonment for breaching these rules.
The NAVC also stressed that any restrictions or changes to the code should apply to all forms of media, including social media.
Andrei Cosma, a partner at Romania-based law firm Baciu Partners, said: “If this proposal is adopted in the current form, it will probably have a huge impact on the Romanian market.
“Numerous operators rely on athletes, sport legends or social-media influencers for their advertising,” he told Vixio Gambling Compliance.
There are critics of the proposed changes, including the Romanian Football Federation (RFF), Romania’s media audit authority (BRAT), and the association of remote gambling organisers (AOJND).
But despite the opposition, the changes are still expected to be approved, partly due to the large shift in public attitude and restrictive policies introduced in the country over the past two years.
A vote on the proposed changes to the code was scheduled for May 29; however, that vote will now be held “in a future meeting”, according to a June 3 update.
If approved, the new version of the Audiovisual Code is expected to enter into force 30 days after it is published in the official gazette.
