Moldova opens gambling to private companies

The gambling industry will no longer be monopolised by Moldova’s government after it announced a public-private partnership project with two EU companies.

Moldova.- Until recently, the gambling segment in Moldova was monopolised by the government under the Public Property Agency. However, the state announced a plan to adopt a public-private partnership with two European companies that will exploit the industry.

Slot machines have been awarded to Novo Gaming M Technologies GmbH, owned by Austrian-based Novomatic. The company, which operates all over the world, will hold the rights to exploit the segment in Moldova under the new scheme developed by the authorities.

The company will return 51 per cent of the revenues to the National Lottery of Moldova. The amount is higher than in any other European markets that operate under similar partnerships.

NGM SPC Limited will be the second business partner of the Moldovian government after it was awarded the lottery and sports betting business. The company is comprised of several companies, including National Lottery AD, the largest licensed gambling operator in Bulgaria.

The company has had one of the largest growth rates in South-Eastern Europe and will return 75 per cent of the revenue generated in the lottery sector to the National Lottery of Moldova, NLM. Regarding sports betting, 90 per cent of the revenues will be returned.