Sighișoara bans gambling halls as Târgu Mureș updates regulations

Local authorities in Transylvania are implementing stricter regulations regarding gambling halls. In Sighișoara, the city council voted to completely ban gambling halls within the city. While businesses with existing annual licenses from national authorities may continue to operate until their current permits expire, they will be unable to renew them through the local council.

In Târgu Mureș, the municipality is proposing amendments to regulations passed this spring. The new draft aims to simplify the licensing process by issuing a single annual local operating permit per location rather than separate permits for different types of gambling. Additionally, the city plans to clarify the designated zones where gambling is permitted by publishing a map that includes specific street names to avoid ambiguity.

Previous restrictions in Târgu Mureș aimed to move gambling halls out of city centers and residential areas. While sports betting offices and Romanian Lotto branches are exempt from these specific location bans, they still cannot operate near schools, kindergartens, hospitals, cultural institutions, or churches. Other requirements include covering storefront windows and displaying warnings regarding gambling addiction.