Gambling Laws in Moldova
Gambling in Moldova is regulated with the
Law Nr.291 on the organization and conduct of games of chance (Lege Nr. 291 cu privire la organizarea și desfășurarea jocurilor de noroc) from December 2016 and its amendments from late July 2017. Articles 2 and 3 of this law contain precise definitions of the forms of gambling regulated in the country such as casino games, table games, bingo, lotto, betting and all forms of
online gambling in Moldova.
The body responsible for the regulation of the gambling activities in the country is the Ministry of Finance. According to the
Moldovan gambling laws, licenses for providing any of the gambling games considered to be legal in the country can be obtained by the Ministry of Finance. And minors under 18 years of age are prohibited to participate in gambling activities.
Online Casinos in Moldova
Although casino games were the only exception to the monopoly of the National Lottery of Moldova (Loteria Națională a Moldovei), the online sector has not grown and, as of August 2019, there are still no
online casino sites in Moldova. As a result, gamblers usually access offshore platforms.
Online Poker in Moldova
There are no special
Moldovan poker laws. Yet, the articles regulating online gambling in general, apply to this game as well, giving online poker the status of a legal game in this country. However, as of August 2019, there are also no specialized
online poker sites in Moldova. Therefore, players access foreign platforms that are licensed elsewhere and that are easily accessible from the country.
Online Lottery in Moldova
According to Article 3 of the
Law Nr.291 on the organization and conduct of games of chance, the National Lottery of Moldova - owned by the Public Property Agency - has the monopoly of the Moldovan lotto market. Recently, it started a partnership with the Bulgarian company National Lottery JSC. However, the offer of lotto games in its website is very limited, which is why players access offshore
online lotto sites.
Online Bingo in Moldova
Although there are no specific
Moldovan bingo laws, the general regulations regarding online games of chance in Moldova apply and online bingo is considered to be legal in the country. However, as of August 2019, there are no specialized
online bingo sites in Moldova, which is why players access bingo rooms that are licensed in other countries.
Online Sports Betting in Moldova
Online sports betting in Moldova is also regulated by the
Law Nr.291 on the organization and conduct of games of chance. However, the betting offer in the country, at least when
online sportsbook sites in Moldova are concerned, is quite limited in comparison with one of the surrounding countries such as Ukraine and Romania. For this reason, bettors usually access offshore platforms that offer a wider variety of sports and higher odds.
Online DFS in Moldova
Online DFS sites in Moldova are not legally regulated. There is an ongoing debate on the status of this type of game, but considering the legality of online gambling in the country, it is very probable that Daily Fantasy Sports will soon receive become legal in Moldova.
