More online casino troubles in Romania

The rather autocratic regulator in Romania continued to wreak havoc among online gambling operators Thursday, adding Bet365 to a blacklist that already features Bwin Digital despite both companies paying back taxes from 2009 (Euro 30 million and Euro 8 million respectively according to some reports) and being in possession of provisional licenses (see previous reports).

Those licenses have now apparently been withdrawn, according to local media reports, although the rationale behind these moves by the National Gambling Office remains unclear.

There has been speculation that the regulator was motivated by the continued operations of both companies in the Romanian market despite a requirement that they cease and desist until the licensing process was complete.

A statement from the regulator does little to clarify the situation, simply asserting:

“Please note that by the no. 2723 decision published on 13.10.2015, the right of Hillside Gaming LP and Hillside Sports LP jointly offering gambling services by their gaming platform accessible via the website bet365.com has been cancelled.

“The company has been warned not to accept players who access their site from Romanian IPs or Romanian players under the law from this day forward and to remit all funds of the players that have registered a game account.

“We warned the players that they have 30 days to withdraw all amounts held in accounts of the operator, after which all access to the site will be restricted.”

The statement goes on to warn Romanian online punters that according to GEO no.77 / 2009, unlicensed online gambling “…constitutes an offence punishable by a fine of 5.000 to 10.000 lei [for] participation of individuals from Romania in remote gambling activities as defined in part. 10 (1) h) -n).

Like Bwin, Bet365 has not so far commented on the issue.