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Romania Eyes 21+ Gambling Age as More Countries Tighten Rules
Romania is thinking of raising the legal gambling age from 18 to 21, amid key gambling reforms. Legal age requirements for gambling vary by country, and raising the official minimum age for gambling is a rarity. Belgium, Lithuania, and parts of Brazil have all, in recent years, pushed up the minimum age for gambling. What is more common is for authorities to roll out additional rules for younger bettors and casino gamers.
But it does raise the question – how young is too young? The US and Canada both are interesting cases where the minimum age for gambling depends on the state/province, and also the nature of the gamble. In the UK, 18 is broadly the minimum age to gamble, but there are loopholes such as the Category D gaming machines (fruit machines, low stakes penny falls or crane grabs) have no minimum age requirement. Romania’s move is bold, and if the change is accepted and written into law, it could prompt other countries to rethink their legal minimum gambling age requirements.
Romania Proposes to Raise Gambling Age
Right now, Romania is in the middle of an intense tightening of the gambling sector. Land-based shops, zoning restrictions and tax requirements have all been part of the massive transformation in the country. The landbased and online gambling industries have been targeted. And officials cite a crackdown on illegal gambling, advertising saturation, and perceived gaps in consumer protection. Specifically, lawmakers are concerned about the youth, and their exposure to gambling products.
Perhaps the most eye catching of all these reforms is the proposal to raise the gambling age from 18 up to 21. It hasn’t been passed yet, and still needs to go through the regulatory hurdles, discussions and votes before Romania can increase its legal gambling age. Supporters argue that this is the best way to protect young adults, stating they are more prone to developing poor gambling habits. The critics argue that increasing the threshold is a gamble in itself, because it may turn players aged 18 to 20 into the black market, and away from regulated casino brands or sportsbooks.
Precedents in Other Countries
Not many countries or jurisdictions have raised the minimum legal gambling age in recent history. It is far more common to either restrict certain products or limit the possibilities for youth players than it is to raise the legal age for gambling. However, here are a few success stories where countries managed to change their minimum age laws.
Belgium (2024)
The gambling authorities in Belgium successfully raised the minimum gambling age for most forms of online and offline betting from 18 to 21. The law change came among a greater reform in the gambling landscape of the country, with major gambling advertising bans and stricter affordability checks. Ultimately, the government referred to the harm of gambling among youth and rising online participation in younger demographics as its primary reason to raise the minimum age.
Lithuania (2025)
From 1 November, Lithuanian gambling platforms do not accept 18 years olds, and only people aged 21 or over can gamble. Up until that point, the minimum age to play slots machines, enter bingo halls, or place sports bets was 18. Lithuania’s lawmakers also made it compulsory for gambling operators to install responsible gambling systems and monitor player activity to assess gambling risks. Any player deemed to have risky behaviors or considered to be at high risk will have their gambling accounts suspended for 48 hours, and access blocked from both physical and online platforms.
Brazil (Proposed)
Back in August, Brazil considered raising the legal gambling age. However, the proposal by Senator Humberto Costa has not come to any fruition yet. The situation in Brazil is quite complex, as the federal gambling regulation is still evolving, and several states and cities have their own age thresholds, with 21 becoming a local requirement for specified betting products. The new licensing system is not even a year old, and Brazil seems to still be tweaking the regulation to manage the market and steer players away from the black market. The measures include limiting payment providers and cutting off cryptocurrency payments to and from iGaming sites.
Other Solutions to Curb Youth Gambling
Young adults are widely considered one of the more vulnerable groups to gambling related harm. Especially when they are exposed to gambling at an early age, as this can normalize gambling and downplay the risks involved.
Another factor to consider is the influence of peer groups. Youth and young adults may be more susceptible to peer pressure when it comes to betting or playing casino games. And gambling may be seen as a glamorous endeavour. From the image of gambling in popular culture to the advertisement exposure, regulators are highly concerned about the rise in youth gambling.
But instead of raising the gambling age, there are plenty of alternatives that other countries have implemented.
Tackling Gambling Ads for Youth Instead
Many countries have cracked down on the advertising and marketing laws for operators. For example:
- Banning celebrity or sports people endorsements
- Restrictions on advertising during sports broadcasts
- Prohibitions on popular social media channels or promotional content through influencers
- Mandatory disclaimers and safer gambling messages
In the UK, the gambling watchdog has long cracked down on advertising during sports game broadcasts. Recently, it celebrated a win when Premier League clubs decided to voluntarily cease front-of-shirt gambling sponsorships.
Influencers and social media gambling content are especially dangerous, as these are tough to control and can spread very quickly. For example, a viral winning bet or a popular influencer who makes regular gambling streams could display the wrong message about the risks of gambling. Spain is in the midst of a gambling regulatory reform, and one of its key changes is introducing anti-smoking style gambling disclaimers, with messages about the dangers and harm that gambling can cause to gamers.
Educational Programs
Romania is launching a range of school based prevention strategies, and it is not the only country to do so. The Gift Responsibly/Too Young to Bet Campaign in the USA and Canada warns communities about the risks of giving lottery tickets to children and exposing them to gambling from a young age. In the UK, GambleAware has Gambling Education Hubs throughout the country to train youth workers, educators and parents to spot early signs of gambling harm and intervene early.
In America, the NCAA has been tirelessly fighting for bans on college sports player props. Not just to battle the culture of gambling among youngsters, but also to protect the integrity of the sport. They recently proposed to lift the ban on college athletes to bet on pro sports. The NCAA argued this would create a more open and healthy environment for student athletes, as well as open more discussions on the risks and dangers of gambling.
Protecting Youth and Romania’s Solution
Should Romania succeed in raising the minimum gambling age, it will be a good precedent for the rest of the world to follow. There is every chance that it could work and deter youth from indulging in sports betting, casino gaming, and other gambles. Yet the opposers to the proposal take a more cautious, and perhaps realistic stance on the subject. Banning these products from a younger audience could drive consumers to the black market. And at these unregulated or internationally licensed gambling sites, the responsible gambling initiatives are not controlled by the state.
That means no nationwide self-exclusion register, no guarantee of responsible gambling initiatives, and in the case of completely unregulated sites, players will not necessarily have the same protection or security assurances. Most other countries opt for ad restrictions, more expansive educational programmes, and providing youth with advanced responsible gambling measures instead. Every country has its own legislation, and there is no universal formula for protecting the youth from gambling. Should Romania’s proposal pass and work, it will certainly give larger gambling jurisdictions plenty to consider with their own legislation.
