The National Audiovisual Council of Romania (CNA) has issued new gambling advertisement regulations, explicitly prohibiting any form of celebrity endorsements in audiovisual media advertisements. This ban covers television, radio, and online platforms and will officially take effect on October 6, 2025, with operators granted a three-month transition period to adjust.
However, this regulation does not apply to celebrity endorsements on street billboards, which are under the jurisdiction of the Romanian Parliament. The public has expressed concerns about the definition of "celebrity," to which Valentin Jucan, the chairman of CNA, responded that the regulatory body will use the same standards as gambling companies to review advertisement content, strictly filtering celebrities who can appear in advertisements.
Jucan emphasized: "We will not compromise on this regulation, expecting the gambling, pharmaceutical, and dietary supplement industries to achieve self-regulation. Only in this way can society function normally like many civilized countries. Joint regulation is the healthiest approach."
It is noteworthy that in May this year, the Kenyan government also banned celebrities and influencers from participating in gambling advertisements. The Latin American region has also strengthened regulations, with Brazil passing new rules in May restricting athletes and internet celebrities from endorsing gambling. Recently, Argentina has imposed sanctions on 16 celebrities and influencers suspected of promoting illegal gambling websites.
Jucan added: "If our decision faces legal challenges, we are prepared to defend this regulation, which has been developed through two years of research and public discussion. This is not a personal opinion, but a professional judgment based on thorough investigation."
