Ban on amusement arcades near schools
The Romanian Senate unanimously adopted the law limiting access to gambling. The law will next go to the Chamber of Deputies, which is a decision-making body.
Daniela Budu, 14.03.2023, 13:50
The law limiting access to gambling was unanimously adopted on Monday by the Romanian Senate, which is the first chamber to which the bill was referred. The document, initiated by the opposition Save Romania Union — USR bans the operation of amusement arcades near schools, playgrounds, cultural centers and hospitals. Senators from all political parties revealed the importance of this project, aimed at reducing the disastrous effects of gambling on minors. The interim president of the Senate, the liberal Alina Gorghiu, believes that the legislation in the field must be stricter and stricter.
Alina Gorghiu: “The most important change is the fact that a ban was introduced on the operation of amusement arcades on a distance of 300 meters from educational units and institutions, playgrounds for children, culture, art, health and social institutions and banking and financial institutions. Secondly, an amendment was adopted which stipulates that these slot machines can no longer be functional in bars”.
For his part, the USR senator Sebastian Cernic showed that while in Romania there are no programs for the prevention and treatment of gambling addiction, the governments of other countries such as Belgium, Great Britain, Spain or Australia have drastically limited the exposure of young people to this risk. According to him, the document is probably the most important law for protecting the life and future of children.
Sebastian Cernic: “We have to say Stop. It is necessary to clear the road to school or to the childrens playground of temptations and lies.”
During the debates, the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania – UDMR senator Irina Kovács, a former high school director, stated that there are teenagers who unfortunately have become addicted to gambling only because these arcades are located near educational institutions.
Irina Kovács: “We had cases of children who ended up developing addictions because the high school was surrounded by no less than five amusement arcades.”
And the Alliance for the Union of Romanians – AUR senator Rodica Boancă believes that such laws are necessary: “Gambling, drugs, alcohol consumption create vices that can endanger their life, that of the family”.
In turn, the social democrat Radu Oprea believes that the draft law is a good initiative, but, unfortunately, it does not solve the problem of those who are addicted to gambling. Radu Oprea: “One of the good amendments is to remove slot-machines from bars and cafes, where young people can enter and where, if there is alcohol around, the idea of playing will definitely become more pressing”.
After being adopted by the Senate, the bill will enter the debate of the Chamber of Deputies, which is a decision-making body. (LS)
