Romanian lottery considers sports betting options

Loto Romania’s operating company is seeking a partner to offer fixed-odds and online sports betting.

Romania.- CN Loteria Românã, Loto Romania’s operating company, is considering expanding its product offering to include fixed-odds and online sports betting.

It’s notified The European Lotteries (EL) and World Lottery Association (WLA) that it’s seeking guidance on the funding and investment needed to create an effective “organised framework to cater for an organic consumer demand in sports betting”.

Loteria Românã, which is the exclusive contractor for Romanian lotteries’ land-based and remote draws, has set a deadline of January 31 for cooperation proposals from “interested parties” to operate its fixed odds betting and online sportsbook.

Proposals must include details on client portfolios, sportsbook systems and an initial overview of how the partnership would work.

Romania’s gambling laws were updated in 2010 to allow licensees to offer online gambling services, which are regulated by the Oficiului Național pentru Jocuri de Noroc (ONJN). The regulator has since granted thirty Class-1 online sportsbook and casino licences to foreign and domestic operators.

Last week, European Lotteries welcomed the European Parliament’s adoption of a negotiating position on the Digital Services Act (DSA). MEPs approved the act’s provisions by 530 votes to 78, with 80 abstentions. The legislation now progresses to negotiation with the European Commission and Council of Europe at the so-called ‘trilogues’ stage.

EL, which provided input on the legislation, says the act would strengthen consumer protection measures as well as measures against illegal online gambling.

The European Gaming and Betting Association has also been involved in the debate on the legislation, stressing the importance of consistency with the EU’s existing legal framework for online business laws on data, consumer protections and platform laws.