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1. Market overview
Where the market sits, who runs it and under what law.
Gambling business in Moldova
The gambling business of the Republic of Moldova is completely legal and actively developing. The gaming industry began to develop particularly rapidly in neighboring countries - after the ban in Russia and Ukraine. Anyone over the age of 18 can play in both land and online casinos.
Both offline and online establishments are allowed in Moldova. Since 2011, all gambling establishments have been monopolized, except for licensed land casinos. The gambling sector is controlled by the joint stock company Loteria Nationala a Moldovei. It is this body that determines the location of the casino, as well as discusses licensing and taxation issues.
Some of the most popular casinos in Moldova are Napoleon Palace, Europe and XO. All of them are located in the capital - Chisinau. Casinos offer 350 gambling clubs with 3.9 thousand slot machines to Moldovan players. According to the Licensing Chamber, two companies lead in the number of game halls: Magic-Land SRL (TM Vulcan) and Reneco-EL (TM Imperia). In addition, nine bookmakers and one lottery operator are registered in Moldova - JV "LOTERIA MOLDOVEI" SA
Specifics of gambling business regulation in Moldova
The development of the gambling business in the Republic of Moldova began in 1918. Then, the first clubs were opened in the big cities, where players played only card games. After the collapse of the USSR, the government decided to develop the gambling industry. However, the state took active action only in 1998 - the Law on Gambling and Gambling Business Licensing was issued. Then in 1999 the state issued the Gambling Act, which sets out the legal principles for their organization and conduct. This law is still in force in the country today.
Almost all types of gambling are allowed in the country:
- Gambling - casinos, slot machines, lotteries;
- Bets - raffles, bookmaker;
Gambling regulations in Moldova
Since 2011, the entire gambling business in Moldova, with the exception of land-based casinos, has been a state monopoly. The current rules are established by the following regulatory legal acts:
- Law on Gambling ", adopted in 1999 (February 18, 1999)
- "Law on Regulation of Entrepreneurial Activity through Licensing" (30.07.2001)
- Law on Organizing and Conducting Gambling Games 01.16.2016
- 1997 Tax Code;
- Decision of the Cash Registers of the Interagency Commission 29.05.2008
According to the legislation of the Republic, participation in gambling (except lottery) is prohibited for persons under 21 years of age, as well as for persons under the influence of alcohol, drugs or other substances. Gaming entertainment organizers are prohibited from participating in the reception held games.
In Moldova, any advertising of gambling establishments and the services offered by them is prohibited. Also, by law, all gambling establishments should be located away from educational institutions, religious and medical facilities, as well as public gathering places.
The regulatory body of the gambling business in Moldova is the joint stock company Loteria Nationala a Moldovei. This statutory fund is subordinated to the Ministry of Finance. The joint stock company determines the licensing and taxation of gambling establishments as well as their location.
License conditions
The following types of gambling activities are licensed in Moldova:
- Organizing and conducting lotteries (except for lotteries for which the state has monopoly rights);
- Land casino activities;
- Use of slot machines with cash prizes;
- Receiving bets on sports competitions.
Under the law, a gambling organizer can be a legal entity registered in the Republic of Moldova and holding the relevant license. The number of foreign shareholders should not exceed 49% of the authorized capital.
Belarusian gambling licenses are issued by the Licensing Chamber, which reports to the Ministry of Economy. The license is valid for one year. After that, it must be renewed. Conditions for issuing a license to carry out any kind of activity in the gaming industry for a legal entity:
Organizational and legal form - a joint stock company or a limited liability company;
Accompanying activities, such as catering, trade in alcohol and tobacco products, etc., are carried out only on the site of the main activity;
To shareholders, board members, among shareholders, as well as employees whose official duties include gambling control or oversight.
The license is issued within three days from the date of receipt of the document confirming the payment. The license fee depends on the specific type of gambling activity:
- Using slot machines - 14,000 MDL ($ 715 per unit);
- Operation of slot machines such as American Roulette - 80,000 MDL ($ 4,090 per unit);
- Organizing bets during competitions (sports or other) - 28% of the total amount of bets received;
- Organizing and conducting instant lottery - 28% of the total cost of lottery tickets for sale;
- Organizing and conducting digital lottery - 28% of the total value of sold lottery tickets;
- Ground casinos with no more than 6 tables - 180,000 MDL ($ 9,200) per table. For each game table starting from the seventh - 360,000 MDL ($ 18,400).
Republic of Moldova Popular casinos in Napoleon Palace, Europe and XO offer Belarusian customers:
- 50 classic slot machines;
- 17 tables for games like Roulette, Blackjack, Texas, Russian and Caribbean poker.
Also, moldovan players are offered 350 gambling clubs with 3.9 thousand gaming machines. According to the Licensing Chamber, only two companies have the largest number of halls: Magic-Land SRL (trademark Vulcan) and Reneco-EL (trademark Imperia). According to regulatory statistics, in total, players spend around 1,000,000 MDLs ($ 50,800) per day. Bookmakers are also very popular. Each year, they receive a net profit of approximately 350 million MDL (nearly $ 17.8 million).
- Region
- CIS & Caucasus
- Legal status of gambling
- Partially regulated
- National regulator
- Joint-stock company Loteria Nationala a Moldovei (National Lottery of Moldova), under the Ministry of Finance; licences are issued by the Licensing Chamber, which reports to the Ministry of Economy.
- Regulator website
- Under verification
- Key legislation
- Law on Gambling, adopted 18 February 1999; Law on Regulation of Entrepreneurial Activity through Licensing (30 July 2001); Law on Organising and Conducting Gambling Games (16 January 2016); the 1997 Tax Code.
- Minimum player age
- 21
2. Allowed verticals
What may be offered, and whether it needs a licence.
| Vertical | Status | Licence required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Land-based casino | Permitted with a licence | Yes | The only vertical exempt from the 2011 state-monopoly change. The country's licensed casinos (e.g. Napoleon Palace, Europe and XO in Chisinau) are part of a sector offering around 350 gaming halls and 3,900 slot machines nationally across all operators, per the source. |
| Slots / gaming halls | Permitted with a licence | Yes | Licensed per machine (MDL14,000 standard; MDL80,000 for American-roulette-type machines); two companies (Magic-Land SRL/Vulcan and Reneco-EL/Imperia) led the sector by hall count at the time of the source. |
| Sports betting | Permitted with a licence | Yes | Nine bookmakers were registered at the time of the source; taxed at 28% of total bets received. |
| Lottery | Permitted with a licence | Yes | One lottery operator was registered (JV "Loteria Moldovei" SA) at the time of the source; most lottery types have been a state monopoly since 2011, while instant and digital lotteries are separately licensable and taxed at 28% of ticket value sold. |
| Poker | Permitted with a licence | Yes | Offered as a table game (e.g. Texas, Russian and Caribbean poker) within licensed land casinos. |
3. Licensing framework
What a licence is, what it costs and what the holder must have in country.
- B2C licensing
- Under verification
- B2B licensing
- Under verification
- Licence term
- One year, renewable (gambling licences issued by the Licensing Chamber).
- Application fee
- Flat per-unit/activity fees rather than a single application fee: MDL14,000 (approx. $715) per slot machine; MDL80,000 (approx. $4,090) per American-roulette-type machine; MDL180,000 (approx. $9,200) per table for a land casino with up to 6 tables, rising to MDL360,000 (approx. $18,400) per table from the 7th table onward. Licences are issued within 3 days of proof of payment.
- Annual fee
- Under verification
- Local presence required
- The gambling organiser must be a legal entity registered in the Republic of Moldova; foreign shareholders may not exceed 49% of the authorised capital.
- Share capital required
- Under verification
| Licence | Type | Product | Authority | Duration | Fee | Key requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Land casino licence (per table) | Land-based | — | Licensing Chamber | 1 year, renewable | MDL180,000 per table (first 6 tables); MDL360,000 per table from the 7th onward | — |
| Slot machine licence | Land-based | — | Licensing Chamber | 1 year, renewable | MDL14,000 per standard machine; MDL80,000 per American-roulette-type machine | — |
4. Taxation and banking
What the state takes, and whether the money can move.
- Gaming tax (GGR)
- 28% of the total amount of bets received for sports/other competition betting; 28% of the total value of tickets sold for instant and digital lotteries.
- Corporate income tax
- Under verification
- Tax on player winnings
- Under verification
- Payments
- Under verification
- Banking and payments
- Under verification
| Tax | Rate | Base | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sports betting tax | 28% of total bets received | Total amount of bets received | — |
| Lottery ticket tax (instant/digital) | 28% | Total value of lottery tickets sold | — |
5. Technical requirements and compliance
What has to be certified, recorded and kept inside the border.
- Certification and game testing
- Under verification
- Responsible gambling
- Participation in gambling, other than lottery, is prohibited for persons under 21 and for anyone under the influence of alcohol or drugs; organisers and staff may not take part in the games they run. Gambling establishments must be sited away from educational, religious and medical facilities, and public gathering places.
- AML regime
- Under verification
- AML and KYC
- Under verification
- Server and data localisation
- Under verification
6. Marketing and advertising
What may be said about the product, and where.
- Advertising
- Under verification
- Advertising restrictions
- All advertising of gambling establishments and their services is prohibited.
- Sponsorship
- Under verification
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Planning to enter Moldova?
A regulatory assessment reads Moldova's regime against your own products, licence class and corporate structure, and says what follows for each: what you may offer, what you must hold, what it costs and what will change.
Who wrote this
- Last reviewed
Regulatory Intelligence disclaimer
Information is provided for general regulatory intelligence purposes and should not be treated as legal advice for a specific transaction or business model. Regulatory requirements may change and should be confirmed before market entry or implementation.