An AUR MP wants restrictions “including in the online environment” for pawnshops and bookmakers. The arguments invoked
Răzvan Biro, AUR deputy from Mureș, said that the new rules in the field “only partially” solve the problem of gambling addiction and that, in his opinion, the operators should “be restricted in their activity including in the online environment to be a complete measure”.
The official said that gambling addicts may move online if there are no restrictions there as well.
“I think that those betting houses and those sites, those casinos should have their activity restricted including in the online environment to be a complete measure, otherwise we will only see the transposition of some people into the online environment”, he declared, on Friday, in a press conference in Târgu Mureș.
Răzvan Biro claims that there will also be a problem regarding the payment of taxes if the bans are not extended to the online environment, because “online betting houses, for the most part, do not pay taxes in Romania, they are from Malta, from Cyprus”.
“At the same time, some people will remain without jobs, so the problem is much more complex. I categorically think that it should not exist around schools, around universities, around educational institutions and so on, because those who are trying to solve this addiction, if you bring them ads, if you bring them such casinos, there is certainly a temptation to re-enter,” added Biro.
On February 24, the Government adopted an emergency ordinance that establishes that gambling operators must obtain, in addition to the national authorization, an operating authorization from the local public administration authority within which they operate. Since then, several mayors, such as those of Brăila, Ploiesti, Slatina, Iași, have announced that they will ban gambling in the cities they administer.
Last month, the Senate passed two laws that, on the one hand, raise the age at which someone can enter casinos to 21, from 18, and, on the other hand, prohibit the display of any gambling advertisement between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 12:00 a.m.
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