Another city in Romania bans gambling. Mayor: “It's not a decision against someone, but for the people”
The Vaslui City Council voted on Thursday to completely ban gambling in the municipality, with the exception of traditional lotto games and sports betting. The project was initiated by the mayor Lucian Braniște and was voted by 21 of the 23 councilors. The gaming rooms will close once their licenses expire, with the first to close at the end of March.
Before the start of the meeting of the City Council, several employees of some gaming halls in Vaslui protested, accusing the municipality of leaving them without a job.
In the municipality of Vaslui, approximately 60 gambling halls are currently operating, in which more than 419 slot machines are operated.
The mayor of Vaslui, Lucian Braniște, the initiator of the project, stated that this measure was taken to protect the citizens of the municipality.
“Protecting families and young people must be a priority”
“As mayor, I believe that protecting families and young people must be a priority. We waited for the publication of the normative act in the Official Gazette and today we also have the legal tools to act. It is not a decision against someone, it is a decision for the people. For children who do not have to grow up in a city dominated by dangerous temptations. For families who have suffered because of game addiction. For a healthier, more balanced and socially safer city. Vaslui must be a city where people build their I don't lose the future, I think we can take this step”, said Mayor Lucian Braniște.
The alderman's proposal had a large majority in the council, with only one councilor abstaining from voting, and another refusing to vote.
According to the decision adopted on Thursday by the Vaslui Local Council, the operators economies that hold authorization of exploitation of games of chance from The Supervisory Committee of the National Games Office of Good luck, valid on date of entry in force of the CL decision they can only continue their activity until they expire validity period a authorization.
The first arcades will close at the end of March, and most at the middle of the current year, when their license expires.
What has the Government changed?
Until the end of last month, the law required gambling companies to obtain a national permit. Through an emergency ordinance adopted on February 24, the Government introduced, in addition to the national authorization, the obligation of an operating authorization from the local public administration authority within which it operates.
Since then, several mayors, such as those from Slatina, Brăila, Ploiesti, Iași, have announced that they will ban gambling in their cities.
The measures come in the context in which the Chamber of Deputies is to decide, as a decision-making body, whether or not to approve two laws regarding gambling.
One of the proposals raises the age at which someone can enter casinos from 18 to 21 and the second bans the display of any betting advertising between 6am and 12am. The two laws passed the Senate last month.
