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Casino and gambling in Moldova
Moldova has chosen a unique model of gambling regulation - a state monopoly with elements of partnership with private companies.
After the 2016-2018 reforms, the market was completely restarted: all licenses are concentrated in the hands of the National Lottery of Moldova, and private companies can only operate in the format of joint ventures (Public-Private Partnership).
This system allowed Moldova to legalize gambling, minimize the shadow and ensure reliable control over tax revenues.
Legislative framework
The main law regulating gambling in the country is Law No. 291 of December 16, 2016 "On the regulation of activities for the organization and conduct of gambling."
According to him:- all types of gambling (including online) are subject to state license;
- the only eligible operator is the National Lottery of Moldova (Loteria Națională a Moldovei);
- private companies can only participate as partners;
- control is carried out by the Public Procurement Agency and the Ministry of Finance.
The main goal of the law is to combat illegal operators and ensure transparent distribution of profits.
State monopoly
Since 2018, all gambling in Moldova is managed by the state.
The National Lottery of Moldova controls:- online casinos and sports betting;
- lotteries and instant games;
- slot machines;
- land-based casinos (limited format).
Private companies are allowed only as technical and marketing partners, receiving a share of the income from joint projects.
The largest of these partners is the Holden Group (Romania), with which a contract was signed to manage online gambling under the brand 7777. md.
Online gambling in Moldova
Online gambling in Moldova is legalized and completely controlled by the state.
Platform 7777. md is the only official online casino and bookmaker operating under a state license.
All other sites that do not have National Lottery permission are considered illegal and blocked by providers by court order.
Key features of online gambling in Moldova:- state monopoly;
- all transactions go through a national monitoring system;
- mandatory registration and identity verification;
- prohibition of participation of persons under 18 years of age;
- the taxation of winnings and profits is regulated by the Ministry of Finance.
Players can bet on sports, participate in lotteries and play licensed slots posted on the official portal.
Land-based casinos
After the 2016 reform, most private casinos were closed and licenses canceled.
Today, Moldova has a limited number of offline establishments located in hotels and tourist complexes.
The most famous:- Casino Europa (Chisinau);
- Slot Club Million;
- Admiral Club;
- Casino Number One.
All of them work under a license issued by the National Lottery of Moldova, and are required to deduct a percentage of profits to the state budget.
Taxation
The Moldovan model of taxation is transparent and beneficial for the state.
Some of the taxes go to social and sports funds, as well as to finance programs to combat gambling addiction.
Control and safety
Moldova has implemented one of the toughest control systems in the region.
Each game operator is obliged to connect to the state information system (GIS), which records:- all bets and winnings;
- personal data of players;
- financial transactions;
- real-time tax revenues.
This system prevents tax evasion and provides complete market transparency.
Fighting ludomania
Law No. 291 provides for mandatory player protection measures:- age limit 18 +;
- self-exclusion - the player can voluntarily block access to all games;
- register of restricted persons (created by the National Lottery);
- a ban on advertising gambling outside official portals.
In addition, part of the income from licensed operators is used to finance psychological assistance and educational programs.
Payment systems
Players can only use legal payment instruments approved by the National Bank of Moldova:- Visa, MasterCard, Maestro;
- bank transfers and ePay;
- Paynet, WebMoney, Qiwi;
- Moldindconbank, Victoriabank, MAIB;
- cryptocurrencies are not allowed.
All transactions go through Moldovan banks and are subject to fiscal accounting.
Economic importance
According to the Ministry of Finance of Moldova (2024):- income from gambling exceeded MDL 500 million;
- about 60% of the market is in the online segment;
- annual tax revenues - 120-150 million MDL;
- the industry employs about 2,000 people.
Gambling has become one of the stable sources of the budget, while strict state control remains.
Challenges and challenges
limited competition due to monopoly;- weak development of private initiatives;
- player leakage into international offshore casinos;
- the need to update the GIS IT infrastructure;
risk of corruption when concluding partnership agreements.
However, the state intends to modernize the system and expand the participation of private investors while maintaining control.
Development prospects
For 2025-2027, it is planned:1. Development of a new licensing system for private operators;
2. The introduction of a regulated online gambling market overseen by the National Lottery;
3. Expansion of GIS functions and transition to blockchain audit of transactions;
4. Integration with EU AML systems;
5. Increasing the level of Responsible Gaming.
Moldova seeks to move from a monopoly to a hybrid model of regulation, where the state retains control, but creates space for innovation and investment.
Moldova demonstrates a tough but effective gambling management system.
State monopoly, technical control and a transparent tax base made the market stable and predictable.
Despite the limited choice of operators, the country creates the basis for civilized and safe gambling, and with further liberalization of legislation, Moldova can become one of the key centers of regulated iGaming in Eastern Europe.
