🇲🇩For operators · Tax, marketing & compliance
Moldova gambling market for operators: state monopoly
Moldova is a state monopoly: online, only Loteria Națională's 7777.md is legal, and the one private licence is for a land-based casino. Operators pay no gambling duty (12% income tax, VAT-exempt); players pay 18% on winnings.
Operator tax12%UpfrontMDL 8,130,000Licence termUnlimitedDecision time10 working daysActive licensees~1
Product by product
The only licence open to private operators is for a land-based casino, held by a Moldovan-resident company with at least MDL 5,000,000 of share capital.| Product | Status | Licensed by | Tax | Key restriction | Advertising |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casino (land-based) | Limited | Public Services Agency (ASP) | No gambling tax; fee of MDL 600,000 per game table and MDL 130,000 per roulette unit a year | Land-based only, with players physically present; at least 5 game tables and one roulette in municipalities, 4 tables and one roulette elsewhere | Mostly banned; promotion allowed inside the casino's main premises |
| Sports betting | State monopoly | None: run by Loteria Națională a Moldovei, which is not licensed | Not applicable to a private operator | Reserved to the state monopoly; players must be 18 or over | Mostly banned; lottery and betting companies may advertise on broadcast media 22:00 to 07:00 and in live sport, with a 20% warning |
| Online casino and slots | State monopoly | None: all online gambling belongs to the state operator | Not applicable to a private operator | All online gambling belongs to the monopoly, which sells slot-style games as electronic lottery tickets on 7777.md; offshore casino sites are listed and blocked | Advertising of high-risk games online is a violation |
| Lottery | State monopoly | None: run by Loteria Națională a Moldovei | Not applicable to a private operator | As for Sports betting | As for Sports betting |
| Online poker | Banned | Land-based casino licence only | No gambling tax | Card games are licensed only in a land-based casino; online poker is reserved to the monopoly and not offered | Mostly banned |
Decided1 Jul 20261 July 2026
Is the state monopoly's lottery and betting contract about to change?
A draft Government Decision would approve Addendum no. 4 to public-private partnership contract no. 1/09 of 23 April 2018 for lotteries and sports betting, including through electronic networks. The Public Property Agency announced the start of drafting with the dates 17.06.2026 and 01.07.2026. The reason given is that the contract is about halfway through its term and the unauthorised segment puts competitive pressure on the legal offer.
Regulator and player protection in Moldova
Regulator
Application authority and enforcement body
Self-exclusion scheme
No national self-exclusion register: 7777
How players exclude themselves; what it covers is in the player guide
Mandatory RG controls
No limit imposed on players
Deposit limits or reality checks the law requires operators to offer
Heads-up for operators
Changes coming in Moldova · last change 9 Nov 2026
Two drafts, neither law: a Government Decision approving Addendum no. 4 to the public-private partnership contract no. 1/09 of 23 April 2018 for lotteries and sports betting, including online (drafting announced on the consultation portal with the dates 17 June and 1 July 2026), and an 'Intelligent Platform for Identifying Unauthorised Websites' being prepared by the ASP, the Public Property Agency and Loteria Națională, at the final approval stage as of 2 September 2026.
Not yet in force: drafts, laws adopted without a start date, and sections of the law still to be commenced. An item moves to the timeline below on the day it takes effect.
Getting licensed: no online licence route
Why there is no online licence, and what exists instead, are in the licence guide
No private operator can be licensed online. The legal basis, what the law allows instead and what an operator or supplier can do are set out there.Read the licence guide
Gambling tax: No gambling duty; 12% corporate income tax
Detail
Moldova levies no tax on stakes, turnover or gross gaming revenue: Law 291 art. 52(1) leaves gambling to the general tax law, and the Fiscal Code has no operator-side gambling duty. An organiser pays company income tax at 12% of taxable income (Fiscal Code art. 15 lit. b)), declared by 25 March for a calendar-year company with quarterly instalments, and charges no VAT on stakes (art. 103(1) pct.
14, exempt without deduction). A lottery organiser may owe the local tax on the value of lottery tickets issued (arts. 289-292).
Law 291 art. 51(5), in force 1 January 2026, says dividends paid to the budget by gambling companies are taken into account in budget planning and may be allocated 60% to sport, 20% to culture and 20% to local cinema; it allocates revenue and creates no tax.
Which foreign licences Moldova accepts
Moldova recognises none of these 8 foreign licences.
BlockedMalta (MGA) · United Kingdom (UKGC) · Gibraltar (GRA) · Isle of Man (GSC) · Curaçao (CGB) · Alderney (AGCC) · Kahnawake (KGC) · Anjouan
Not recognised: online gambling is a state monopoly of Loteria Națională a Moldovei and Law 291 recognises no foreign gambling licence; the ASP lists unauthorised sites for blocking and payment-service providers must refuse their payments (arts. 47, 50/1, 50/2).
Bonus rules: welcome bonuses allowed
Inducement ads: Channel-restricted
No Moldovan rule regulates bonuses, free bets or wagering requirements; promoting them is advertising and falls under the general ban and its narrow exceptions.
What the player can claim
- Welcome bonus
- Allowed
- VIP schemes
- Allowed
- Loyalty schemes
- Allowed
- Cashback
- Allowed
Only the state operator's 7777.md may offer them online; it runs a VIP club and free-bet promotions (operator statements).
What the operator can advertise
- Channels off-limits
- internet
- social media
- outdoor
- telephone and post
- Mandatory disclaimer
Warning on the negative impact of gambling
- Placement rule
- At least 20% of the time or surface of permitted broadcast and periodical advertising
- Penalties
MDL 10,000-15,000 for a legal person (Contravention Code art. 277/1(5))
Casino licence suspension for advertising (Law 291 art. 31(12))
Promotion by telephone or post is banned; 7777.md sends promotional messages only with the player's consent.
Advertising: banned or near-banned
Gambling advertising is banned in every medium, online included (Law 291 art. 53(2)). Since 10 February 2025 (Law 302/2024) narrow exceptions apply: promotion inside the operator's main premises and material for participants for any game; and, only for companies whose main activity is lotteries or sports betting, broadcast advertising between 22:00 and 07:00, live sport broadcast by a national media provider and periodicals up to 15% of an issue, each with a warning on the negative impact of gambling covering at least 20% of the time or surface, sponsorship, and lottery material up to A4 where tickets are sold. No exception covers the internet; casino and slot-machine advertising stays banned (art. 54(2)(h)).
| Channel | Status | Vertical & Platform Split (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Google Search Ads | Banned | Internet advertising is within the ban and no exception names the internet (art. 53(2)).1 |
| Meta (FB/IG) | Banned | Social media advertising is internet advertising; no exception covers it. No rule names influencers; they fall under the same ban.1 |
| TV & Radio | Restricted | Lottery and sports-betting companies only: between 22:00 and 07:00 and in live sport broadcast by a national media provider, with a 20% negative-impact warning. Casino and slot advertising banned.14 |
| Sponsorships | Restricted | Banned for gambling companies, except low-social-risk (lottery and betting) operators; inside a stadium during an event, only official sponsors that are exclusively sports-betting organisers may show their marks.14 |
| Digital OOH | Banned | Outdoor advertising and advertising in public spaces and transport is banned; only lottery material up to A4 at the points of sale is allowed.1 |
Channel rules for Moldova reflect each platform's published policy and the sources numbered in each row (listed under Methodology & sources). Verify with the local regulator and your ad-platform account manager before launching.
How Moldova enforces against unlicensed operators
Enforcement rests on the ASP's blocklist, payment blocking and fines under the Contravention Code, with criminal liability for anyone who organises or facilitates gambling that infringes the monopoly.
- The ASP list of unauthorised web pages, platforms and applications held 12,024 domains as of 5 November 2026; electronic-communications providers must block them on the communications regulator's decision (Law 291 art. 50/1).
- Since 19 March 2025 payment-service providers must refuse payments to listed organisers within at most 3 working days of the notice (Law 27/2025, art. 50/2).
- Gambling without a licence is fined 60-120 conventional units (MDL 3,000-6,000) for an official and 120-180 (MDL 6,000-9,000) for a legal person; advertising against Law 291 up to 200-300 units (MDL 10,000-15,000) for a legal person (Contravention Code art. 277/1).
- Criminal Code art. 242/3 fines a legal person MDL 300,000-400,000 for the basic offence of organising or facilitating unauthorised monopoly gambling, including payment services, and up to MDL 500,000 or 5 years' imprisonment for an individual in the gravest cases.
- No fine on players appears in the codes; casino licences can be suspended or withdrawn (Law 291 art. 31(12)-(13)).
Enforcement cases in Moldova: 2 recent
Material regulator actions, court rulings, and high-profile fines from 2016–2026 against operators serving Moldova. Each entry includes the technical failure and a one-line read-across for other operators in the market.
- November 2026
Unauthorised online operators (12,024 domains)
Grey-MarketSites listed for blockingThe ASP's list of unauthorised web pages, platforms and applications held 12,024 domains on 5 November 2026; electronic-communications providers must block them on the communications regulator's decision.
Read-across: Any operator serving Moldova outside the monopoly is listed and blocked; the ASP says blocked sites reappear within hours under new names.
- March 2025
Payment-service providers
Grey-MarketPayment blockingSince 19 March 2025 payment-service providers must refuse payments to organisers on the ASP list within at most 3 working days of the notice (Law 27/2025, art. 50/2).
Read-across: Unauthorised operators lose card and bank routes; providing payment services to them is itself a violation and a crime under Criminal Code art. 242/3.
Licensed operators: ~1
As of 9 Nov 2026, approximately 1 operator hold an active licence in Moldova. Size your entry against this base before committing capital.
Notable licensed operators
Traps operators hit in Moldova
Specific operational risks that have caught new entrants in this market. Each item is country-specific. Generic gambling-ops issues (KYC, RG tools) are not included unless they have a local twist.
No online route for a private operator
Lotteries, betting, slot machines and all online gambling belong to Loteria Națională a Moldovei (Law 291 art. 47(1)); a private company can only hold a land-based casino licence, and a foreign licence counts for nothing.
Sources1
Facilitating the monopoly's rivals is a crime
Criminal Code art. 242/3 punishes the promotion, intermediation and facilitation of unauthorised monopoly gambling, including payment services, with fines up to MDL 500,000 for a legal person.
Sources7
A land-based casino needs MDL 5,000,000 of capital
The licensee must be a Moldovan-resident company with share capital of MDL 5,000,000 (at least 70% cash) and five years' gambling experience in Moldova or the EU; there is no foreign-ownership cap.
Sources1
Equipment and servers in Moldova
Online gambling equipment, software and the control server must be on Moldovan territory and the website must hold a Moldovan domain (art. 47(5)); suppliers' gaming means must be certified and declared to the ASP.
Sources1
Advertising stays banned online
The February 2025 exceptions cover broadcast, live sport, periodicals and sponsorship for lottery and betting operators only; no exception covers the internet or social media.
Timeline: rules in force
- 1 Jan 2026
Gambling dividends in budget planning
Law 291 art. 51(5): dividends paid by gambling companies may be allocated 60% to sport, 20% to culture and 20% to local cinema.
Source: 1
- 19 Mar 2025
Law 27/2025: payment blocking
Payment-service providers must refuse payments to organisers on the ASP list (art. 50/2).
Source: 6
- 10 Feb 2025
Law 302/2024: advertising exceptions
Exceptions to the advertising ban for lottery and betting operators: broadcast between 22:00 and 07:00, live sport, periodicals and sponsorship, with a 20% warning.
Source: 4
- 19 Dec 2024
Law No. 302 Amends Advertising Restrictions
Law 302 of 19 December 2024 (in force 10 February 2025) added narrow exceptions to the ban on all gambling advertising in Law 291/2016 art. 53(2), and changed the Audiovisual Media Services Code.
Source: 8
- January 2022
Total Ban on Gambling Advertising Instituted
A complete prohibition on all forms of gambling advertising across all media channels came into effect to address social concerns.
Source: 9
- 23 Apr 2018
PPP contract no. 1/09
Loteria Națională's public-private partnership for lotteries and sports betting, including online, with NGM SPC Limited and NGM Company SRL.
Source: 10
- 6 Jan 2017
Law 291/2016 in force
The gambling law: state monopoly for lotteries, betting, slot halls and online gambling; the ASP licenses land-based casinos.
Source: 1
- 2017
State Monopoly Becomes Operational
The Joint Stock Company 'Loteria Națională a Moldovei' formally took control of the monopoly operations for lottery, sports betting, and online gaming.
Source: 11
- 2016
Law No. 291/2016 Enacted
The foundational law was passed, establishing the state monopoly over all gambling activities except for land-based casinos.
Source: 12
- In force
Unauthorised Gambling Sites Listed and Blocked
Web pages, platforms and apps are placed on the Public Services Agency's published list and blocked by internet providers on ANRCETI's decision (Law 291/2016 art. 50^1).
Source: 13
Operator myths vs reality in Moldova
Common assumptions about gambling licensing that turn out to be wrong in practice.
- MythA Maltese or Curaçao licence is enough to serve Moldova.
- MythForeign investors are capped at 49% of a casino company.Reality
Law 291 sets no foreign-ownership cap. The licensee must be a Moldovan-resident company; an EU or foreign group may own it.
Sources1
- MythSports betting is taxed at 28% of bets.Reality
Moldova has no gambling duty. Organisers pay 12% company income tax, and gambling is VAT-exempt.
Sources14
- MythThe casino licence lasts one year.Reality
It is valid for an unlimited term, on condition that the annual fee is paid (art. 31(2)).
Sources1
Markets that work like Moldova
Compared on what our records hold for each country: whether online casino, betting, poker and lottery are licensed, state-run or banned, the licensing model, what the operator tax is levied on and its band, how most advertising channels are treated, and how foreign licences are treated. A point we hold for only one of the two countries counts for nothing.
- LebanonAI overviewNigerAI overview
Online casino and betting limited; poker banned; lottery licensed; state monopoly.
- North MacedoniaAI overview
Online casino and betting limited; state monopoly; foreign licences mostly blocked.
- TogoAI overviewCôte d'IvoireAI overview
Online casino and betting limited; lottery licensed; state monopoly.
Methodology & sources
The research behind our Moldova coverage
Counted across every Moldova page, not this page alone.
compiled 9 Nov 2026
7
official websites
regulators, legislatures, courts
42
pages cited
specific documents, not homepages
246
sourced data points
each traced to the instrument
Across every Moldova page on this site: players, operators and the licence guide. The research report behind them cites official sources: the law, the regulator, the gazette, the courts and each platform’s own published advertising policy. Page sections not yet rewritten from the report may cite other sources.
The same research as a 63-page Moldova report: every one of the 201 checklist questions, each answer cited to the instrument behind it.
Request the Moldova reportOur Deep AI Scan took Moldova through all 201 questions of our regulatory checklist, from 30 official documents, read on 9 Nov 2026. Our research team then traced every figure on this page to the document and sentence that states it. The full research report is due to go to our compliance team. Where a fact rests on a press report or a law-firm summary rather than an official document, the page says so.
Documents cited on this page
- 1Law no. 291 of 16 December 2016 on the organisation and conduct of gambling (consolidated text, legis.md)
- 2Contravention Code no. 218/2008, art. 277/1 (consolidated text, legis.md)
- 37777.md: general rules of use of the site
- 4Law no. 302 of 19 December 2024 amending certain normative acts (advertising exceptions, in force 10 February 2025)
- 5ASP: list of web pages, platforms and applications through which unauthorised gambling is accessed (open data)
- 6Law no. 27 of 27 February 2025 amending certain normative acts (payment blocking, art. 50/2)
- 7Criminal Code no. 985/2002, art. 242/3 (consolidated text, legis.md)
- 8Source
- 9Source
- 10Particip.gov.md: draft Government Decision approving Addendum no. 4 to PPP contract no. 1/09 of 23 April 2018
- 11Source
- 12Source
- 13Source
- 14Fiscal Code no. 1163/1997 (consolidated text in force from 1 January 2026, legis.md)
The 10 documents this page relies on most
- Legea nr. 291/2016 cu privire la organizarea și desfășurarea jocurilor de noroc (consolidated text, amendments to LP330 of 29.12.2025)Regulator
- Codul fiscal nr. 1163/1997 (consolidated text, amendments to LP318 of 29.12.2025)Regulator
- Legea nr. 308/2017 cu privire la prevenirea și combaterea spălării banilor și finanțării terorismului (consolidated, amendments to LP268 of 28.11.2024)Regulator
- Ordinul SPCSB nr. 21 din 04.08.2023 (Regulamentul privind cerințele în domeniul prevenirii și combaterii spălării banilor pentru entitățile supravegheate de SPCSB), amended by OSPCSB25/25.11.24 and OSPCSB8/28.05.25Regulator
- ASP: list of web pages / platforms / applications through which unauthorised gambling is accessed (open-data page)Regulator
- ASP: Licență pentru activitate de întreținere a cazinoului (service page: fees, terms, documents, conditions, legal basis)Regulator
- Codul contravențional nr. 218 din 24.10.2008 (consolidated text, legis.md doc_id 157174), art. 277/1, 34, 356, 400, 402, 408Regulator
- Law no. 302 of 19 December 2024 amending certain normative acts (legis.md)Regulator
- Hotărîrea Guvernului nr. 777 din 01.08.2018 pentru aprobarea Regulamentelor-tip privind organizarea și desfășurarea activității în domeniul jocurilor de noroc ce constituie monopol de stat (legis.md doc_id 150725)Regulator
- 7777.md: Politica de joc responsabil a Loteriei NaționaleRegulator
Also cited on this page
30 documents in all. Request the full research report for every source, answer by answer.
Looking for the player guide?
For consumer-facing information about gambling in Moldova (tax on winnings, where to play legally, self-exclusion options), see the Moldova player guide.
Disclaimer. This page reflects the law as we understood it on 9 Nov 2026. Rules change: always check the current position with Agenția Servicii Publice (ASP): the land-based casino licence; online gambling, lotteries, betting and slot halls are a state monopoly of Loteria Națională a Moldovei, which needs no licence. We are not a legal adviser.