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Romania: Higher Gambling Taxes Will Drive Players to the Black Market, AOJND Warns
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:
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More attractive bonuses and rewards (59.46%) — perks that unlicensed operators can afford since they pay no taxes in Romania.
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Excessive taxation on licensed sites (18.92%).
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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:
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Self-exclusion options
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Deposit and betting limits
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Financial eligibility checks
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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.
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Ygam has now surpassed the milestone of reaching an estimated five million children and young people across the UK through its portfolio of prevention programmes.
Founded in 2014, Ygam has now delivered its award-winning training and resources on gaming and gambling harms to over 32,000 delegates.
Ygam’s reach extends beyond the education sector, with training delivered to more than 5,500 professionals working across health and social care — including hospitals, health boards, GP surgeries, and community nursing settings. This work, aligned with a public health approach to preventing gambling harms, has directly contributed to the digital safeguarding of nearly half a million children and young people accessing health services.
With growing concerns from parents and carers about the role of gaming and gambling in the wider online safety conversation, Ygam has become a trusted and respected source of advice and guidance for families. The charity has delivered workshops to more than 4,500 parents and carers.
Ygam is a national charity with a footprint across every region of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, and a presence in 64 of the UK’s 76 cities.
Ygam’s work has also seen a significant increase in the longevity of its reach, with nearly 100,000 resource downloads of its award-winning resources, and at least 50% of educators implementing these materials into their lessons.
Helen Martin, Interim CEO of Ygam, said: “This milestone is more than just a number – it’s a reflection of the positive impact we’re making in every corner of the UK. We’re incredibly proud of the growing community that shares our passion for safeguarding children’s wellbeing in an increasingly complex digital world, where gaming and gambling are more accessible than ever. From schools to sports clubs, parents to practitioners, and colleges to community centres, we’re raising awareness through the powerful tool of education. As we mark this extraordinary achievement, the demand for our resources has never been greater. We remain committed to expanding our reach and deepening our impact, ensuring that every child has the knowledge and confidence to navigate the risks of gaming and gambling harms.”
But there’s so much more to do – help us reach the next 5 million…
The post Ygam achieve milestone of reaching 5 million young people appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Boomerang Partners set to shine at SiGMA Europe 2025 with sports-themed booth activities and the Golden Boomerang League winners celebration
From November 4th to 6th, 2025, Boomerang Partners will participate in SiGMA Europe 2025 in Rome, one of the most important events in the world for the affiliate marketing and iGaming industry. The company’s booth 5046 G will be a focal point, thanks to the signature ‘Boomerang Arena’ concept.
The ‘Boomerang Arena’ symbolizes the strong connection between sports and technological innovations, and reflects Boomerang Partners’ focus on the sports aspect of their business. The booth will be divided into several themed zones dedicated to football, golf, tennis, and boxing, as well as a location for sports-related interactive experiences.
Booth 5046 G will be the must-visit hub for SiGMA Europe 2025’s guests for many reasons. Boomerang Partners is preparing a variety of activities that are sure to generate heightened interest from booth visitors. They can look forward to various sports-related interactive experiences, mini-games, table tennis activity, and a unique gift auction. Details about the participation conditions will be announced later. Stay tuned for updates.
On November 5th, Boomerang Partners will ceremoniously announce and award the winners of its first sports traffic tournament, the Golden Boomerang League. It runs from September 1st to October 31st and is designed for both current and new affiliate partners of the company. The prizes include direct entry into the annual global tournament, the Golden Boomerang Awards 2026, and two all-expenses-paid AC Milan Experience packages, which include flights, accommodations, and tickets to a match at the San Siro Stadium. Boomerang Partners will provide this opportunity as the Official Regional Partner of AC Milan.
Book a meeting with Boomerang Partners’ managers now to learn about collaboration opportunities. There are only a few slots left.
About Boomerang
Boomerang Partners is a rapidly growing global marketing agency offering a wide range of services. Boomerang Partners is the Official Regional Partner of AC Milan. In 2024, it launched the inaugural Golden Boomerang Awards — a global tournament for affiliate teams. More than 400 affiliate teams participated in the second season of the tournament in 2025. The agency launched six new products in 2024-2025, contributing to a nearly 1.5-fold increase in product users.
The agency’s client portfolio contains 13+ brands offering affiliate and entertainment services across 40+ markets in compliance with local regulations. These products provide personalized bonuses and 24/7 multilingual support.
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Studio’s latest classic slot delivers exhilarating bonus action against a glamorous TV gameshow backdrop, with cascading reels adding to the excitement
Have you got what it takes to take on the Prize Ladder and come out on top? That’s the question players must answer before taking on the latest classic slot title from in-demand content house, Northern Lights Gaming.
Bright lights and big wins are the order of the day in Prize Ladder, a game-show style blockbuster that promises twists and turns from the very first game round to the last.
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The excitement builds with the Prize Ladder™ itself, which increases the value of winning symbols with every consecutive cascade in a single spin. And if a Padlock symbol lands on the final cascade, those juicy symbol values get locked in for the next spin.
This wouldn’t be a Northern Lights Gaming slot without a glitzy Free Spins bonus, which gets triggered when three or more Scatter symbols land. This gets the player eight Free Games with the Awards Cards held for the duration.
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One whole reel of the same symbol also has a chance to trigger the Super Spins. The reels then spin in more of that symbol across the reels. Each position that is not held, spins, with either the triggering symbol, blank or Scatters.
Additional symbols and Scatters that land are held on the reels, and for each Super Spin, the Prize Ladder award rolls up one level.
Now for the Buy the Bonus options – players can Booster Buy, which increases the chance of triggering the Free Spins, Super Spins and the Padlock Bonus, or they can opt for the Bonus Buy to head straight to the Free Spins, Super Spins or Super Free Spins.
Chris Loftus CEO at Northern Lights Gaming, said: “Prize Ladder is a classic slot that plays more like a bonus-heavy video slot. It’s a game that’s all about the glitz and glamour, and climbing that ladder to unlock the game’s biggest bonuses and wins.
“The entire team has really pulled together for Prize Ladder, and the result is a visually striking slot with gameplay that gets pulses racing thanks to a smart combination of mechanics and bonuses, including some of our unique in-house features like Rolling Reels.
“Think your players are ready to take on the Prize Ladder? There’s only one way to find out.”
The post Introducing Prize Ladder from Northern Lights Gaming appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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