Moldovan state brings in monopoly on gambling

Chisinau, 7 December /MOLDPRES/ – The state will establish a monopoly on all gambling, apart from casinos to which toughens requirements for such kind of activity performance, according to a draft amendment to the legislation, submitted as legislative initiative by a group of parliament members’ project approved today by the Government.

There have been conducted several studies in 2016 which found that "there are major risks of tax evasion and social risks related to this area," said Deputy Prime Minister Octavian Calmic, Minister of Economy, at the Cabinet meeting.

The cabinet also approved a draft amendment to the legislation, according to which the Ministry of Finance would take over the duties of the Chamber of Licensing regulation and supervision of gaming activities. It also plans to adjust the tax system of all gains from gambling and ban advertising industry.

In late October, the Licensing Chamber suspended licenses of 65 economic activities with gambling, bet, casino and gaming machines. Acts of suspend are due to multiple violations which were found in the act of control that the Financial Inspection under the Ministry of Finance and investigations conducted by the Anti-corruption Prosecutor's Office jointly with the National Anti-Corruption Centre (CNA).

(Reporter V. Bercu, editor A. Raileanu)