National lottery of Moldova monopolizes gambling business of the state

12.12.2016

The parliament of Moldova has approved the bill which makes National lottery of Moldova (NLM) a single owner and organizer of lotteries, betting shops, slot rooms as well as slot machines. Casino hasn’t been included into the list.

Authors of the project say that it is aimed at eliminating problems related to tax evasion, absence of transparency and fiscal agents’ negligence. According to restrictions, specified in the bill, the Ministry of Finance will regulate and control gambling industry with the help of National lottery.

“We are establishing strict rules in gambling business. We will stop all antisocial and illegal processes of the sphere. Those who want to run gambling business will have to work in extremely severe conditions”, said Sergey Syrbu, one of the authors of the project.

The bill forbids the following:

to open gambling parlors in governmental entities, at stops of public transport, railway stations and in underground walkways;
to open gambling parlors within 200 m from schools and medical institutions;
to install slot machines produced more than 5 years ago;
to advertise gambling;
to gamble if you haven’t reached the age of 21.