Connect with us

Latest News

Romania: Higher Gambling Taxes Will Drive Players to the Black Market, AOJND Warns

Published

on

romania:-higher-gambling-taxes-will-drive-players-to-the-black-market,-aojnd-warns
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Increasing taxes on gambling operations in Romania will not boost state revenues but will instead trigger a mass migration of players to the black market, warns the Romanian Remote Gambling Operators Association (AOJND). According to the association, such a shift would expose players to unregulated environments and have severe economic and social repercussions.

Licensed online gambling operators in Romania already face a cumulative tax burden of up to 30% of gross gaming revenue. AOJND emphasizes that any additional tax increases would be economically unsustainable for operators and would inevitably be passed on to players. The result? A mass exodus toward unlicensed platforms that offer fewer restrictions and more aggressive incentives.

A Growing Threat: Black Market Gambling

Earlier this year, AOJND commissioned a survey that revealed alarming data: 14.07% of Romanian players admitted to using unlicensed gambling websites. The key reasons for this behavior were:

  • More attractive bonuses and rewards (59.46%) — perks that unlicensed operators can afford since they pay no taxes in Romania.

  • Excessive taxation on licensed sites (18.92%).

  • No requirement to justify the origin of played funds (11.76%).

Meanwhile, the economic impact is already showing: in 2024, tax revenues from the gambling industry dropped by nearly 17%, totaling €689 million, according to Romania’s National Office for Gambling (ONJN). This decline coincided with increased tax burdens across the sector.

Eroding Player Protections

AOJND also highlights the risk to players who turn to unlicensed platforms. These operators are not bound by Romanian regulations and do not offer any of the mandatory safeguards provided by licensed operators, including:

  • Self-exclusion options

  • Deposit and betting limits

  • Financial eligibility checks

  • Responsible gambling awareness campaigns

“Additional taxation will only push more players into the arms of unlicensed operators,” stated Odeta Nestor, President of AOJND. “Without legal protection, these players face a much higher risk of gambling addiction, fraud, and other criminal activities. This policy would undermine years of progress in ensuring safe and responsible gambling environments.”

About AOJND

The Romanian Remote Gambling Operators Association (AOJND) was founded in 2017 to unify and represent the interests of Romania’s licensed online gambling operators. Its mission is to promote fair, responsible, and transparent gaming practices in a regulated framework.

AOJND members include prominent brands such as:

EFBET, FRANK CASINO, EFORTUNA, LAS VEGAS, WINBET, CASA PARIURILOR, BETANO, MAXBET, STANLEYBET, NETBET, POKERSTARS, UNIBET, MOZZART, GETSBET, PLAYGG, 888, and WINNER.

Final Thoughts

As Romania considers changes to its gambling tax regime, AOJND’s message is clear: heavier taxation is not a path to sustainable revenue, but a shortcut to destabilization. The black market thrives in the shadows of overregulation. To protect players, preserve state income, and ensure industry integrity, a balanced, forward-looking approach is essential.


For more information about AOJND and its advocacy for responsible iGaming in Romania, visit AOJND’s official site.

The post Romania: Higher Gambling Taxes Will Drive Players to the Black Market, AOJND Warns appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Europe

Realistic Games strengthens Dutch presence with Starcasino partnership

Published

on

realistic-games-strengthens-dutch-presence-with-starcasino-partnership

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Realistic Games is continuing its strong commercial momentum by partnering with operator brand Starcasino. Building on their existing collaboration in the Belgian market, this new agreement sees the developer extend its offering to a Dutch player base, reinforcing its ongoing commitment to the region’s rapidly growing market.

Following its launch in September, the agreement provides Starcasino.nl with access to Realistic’s vast selection of popular titles, including Book of Charms, Phantom Tides, and Emerald Frenzy.

Kieran Wilson, Account Manager at Realistic Games, said: “Our partnership with Starcasino is built on a foundation of trust and shared success, which made it a natural next step to extend our collaboration into the Netherlands.

“We are eager to continue building on this momentum and are thrilled to bring our exciting titles to a new audience with a brand that shares our passion for delivering great games.”

Pieter Van den Bos, Director at Starcasino added: “The success we have experienced with Realistic Games in the Belgian market made it a clear choice to deepen our collaboration. We are delighted to extend our partnership into the Netherlands, a move that will allow us to bring their high-quality content to an even wider audience.

“This agreement will further diversify the content on our platform and deliver a continual flow of exciting new games to our players.”

The post Realistic Games strengthens Dutch presence with Starcasino partnership appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Continue Reading

Andrew Mook Head of Brand Marketing at Midnite

Midnite Express sees football fans joined by club legends for 460-mile away day

Published

on

midnite-express-sees-football-fans-joined-by-club-legends-for-460-mile-away-day

Reading Time: 2 minutes

  • UK sportsbook and casino Midnite provided free away supporter coach travel for Southampton fans for their 460-mile-round trip to Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane

  • Saints heroes Matt Le Tissier, James Beattie and Francis Benali joined supporters on board

  • Hyper-growth bookmaker Midnite is a sponsor of both Southampton and Sheffield United

Midnite, the fastest growing bookmaker in the UK, provided supporter coach travel for 100 Southampton supporters, as they set off on a 460-mile round trip to watch their beloved Saints take on Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.

Midnite, who are the official training kit partner of Southampton and the principal partner of Sheffield United for the 2025/26 season, created The Midnite Express, offering luxury travel filled with entertainment along the way for Tuesday night’s EFL Championship match.

The lucky Saints fans were joined on The Midnite Express coaches by Southampton legends, Matt Le Tissier, James Beattie, and Francis Benali.

With DJ sets, football quizzes and Q&As throughout, fans were treated to a unique experience, all designed to create unforgettable moments for these loyal supporters, while easing the financial strain that comes with away supporter travel.

And Saints fans went home happy as a 2-1 win meant they took the three points back to the South Coast.

Le Tissier, who scored 100 goals in 270 top-flight appearances for Saints, said: “With the cost of living crisis that we’ve got going on in this country at the moment, with the train services, it’s really difficult for fans to get to and from these away games.

“And The Midnite Express initiative of putting coaches on for the fans to get up to Sheffield United was absolutely brilliant. We had a good laugh!”

Former England and Southampton striker, James Beattie, added: “It was great to be part of The Midnite Express and travel down with the Southampton fans. We had a very fun journey and the fans put in a proper shift for such a long journey.”

Andrew Mook, Head of Brand Marketing at Midnite, added: “Everbody hates a long commute, but we wanted to create something for Southampton fans with a sprinkle of Midnite magic.

“These fans are what makes football what it is, and we wanted to reward them with a day that they won’t soon forget by spending the journey with Saints legends and fellow fans. The feedback has been brilliant, and we’re pleased to have been able to ease the financial burden while bringing fans closer to the teams they love.

“The match marked a unique and special moment for Midnite as both of our sponsored clubs met for the first time. We’re already looking forward to the return fixture in January, when we’ll be running the Midnite Express, this time for Sheffield United fans.”

The post Midnite Express sees football fans joined by club legends for 460-mile away day appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Continue Reading

Crown Strike: Hold and Win

Playson unveils new reel layout in Crown Strike: Hold and Win

Published

on

playson-unveils-new-reel-layout-in-crown-strike:-hold-and-win

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Unique 3x5x3 field and powerful Striking Crown symbol headline regal release

Playson, the accomplished digital entertainment supplier, has incorporated a brand-new 3x5x3 reel set to deliver a regal twist to the gameplay in its latest release, Crown Strike: Hold and Win.

The unique game field with 15 paylines brings a new dimension to Playson’s iconic portfolio, with the expanded grid now allowing up to five Striking Crown symbols to land on the middle reel only for increased win potential.

Striking Crown symbols act as a Collect Feature during both base and Bonus Games, accumulating the value of all Bonus symbols and adding them to the total win. Bonus symbols appear with set multipliers of up to 12x, or as one of four in-game Jackpots symbols worth between 15x (Mini) and 1,000x (Grand).

Players also benefit from the Pile of Diamonds Feature, which can randomly trigger the Bonus Game whenever a Bonus symbol lands during base play by adding enough Bonus or Striking Crown symbols.

Crown Strike: Hold and Win includes two Bonus Buy options in permitted markets, allowing players to purchase access to either a standard Bonus Game with one or more Striking Crowns, or a Super Bonus Game with three or more, adding further flexibility and excitement to the experience.

The high-energy release demonstrates Playson’s expertise in advancing the Hold and Win gaming experience, developing new concepts that attract the attention of players and deliver more engagement opportunities for operators worldwide.

Tamas Kusztos, CCO at Playson, said: “With Crown Strike: Hold and Win, we are proud to introduce our distinctive new game field structure to our portfolio. The title blends powerful features and a unique layout to deliver a fresh and rewarding experience.

“We are confident Crown Strike: Hold and Win will make a strong impact across our operator network by delivering more value and engagement.”

The post Playson unveils new reel layout in Crown Strike: Hold and Win appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Continue Reading

Trending

Get it on Google Play

Fresh slot games releases by the top brands of the industry. We provide you with the latest news straight from the entertainment industries.

The platform also hosts industry-relevant webinars, and provides detailed reports, making it a one-stop resource for anyone seeking information about operators, suppliers, regulators, and professional services in the European gaming market. The portal's primary goal is to keep its extensive reader base updated on the latest happenings, trends, and developments within the gaming and gambling sector, with an emphasis on the European market while also covering pertinent global news. It's an indispensable resource for gaming professionals, operators, and enthusiasts alike.

Contact us: [email protected]

Editorial / PR Submissions: [email protected]

Copyright © 2015 - 2024 - Recent Slot Releases is part of HIPTHER Agency. Registered in Romania under Proshirt SRL, Company number: 2134306, EU VAT ID: RO21343605. Office address: Blvd. 1 Decembrie 1918 nr.5, Targu Mures, Romania