Gambling
Țuca Zbârcea & Asociații has an unparalleled knowledge and commercial understanding of the way in which the Romanian gambling industry works. We are advising many of the gambling operators active in the Romanian online and offline markets as well as software developers, payment processors and other services suppliers in the gambling industry.
Our goal is to provide innovative, business-oriented advice to our clients on all matters impacting their businesses, covering a large variety of practice areas such as gambling regulatory matters, AML, media and advertising, data protection, IP and tax.
We were also involved in the consultations held by the Romanian authorities having regulatory prerogatives over the gambling sector and we have acted as a trusted partner in the regulators’ efforts to make the Romanian legal framework one of the friendliest environment for online betting.
Our Services
assisting the clients in corporate transactions aiming at businesses consolidation on the Romanian gambling market.
drafting, reviewing and negotiating contracts between gambling operators and services suppliers.
assistance in the process of obtaining interim rights and full 1st class gambling licenses, in Romania; assistance in obtaining 2nd class gambling licenses required for the services suppliers in the gambling industry; assistance in the process of renewal of the annual gambling authorisations applicable to holders of 1st class gambling licenses.
assistance on the regulatory reporting with the Romanian gambling regulator and representing the clients in front of the Romanian regulator on various issues relevant to their day-to-day business; legal advice in connection with the lawful promotion of gambling; AML/KYC and data protection compliance; advice on various tax related matters for the gambling industry, etc.
Client Highlights
Day-to-day assistance provided to one of the most successful gambling platforms operators in the world with a local presence in Romania: assistance in the process of obtaining a 1st class gambling licence for online gambling, the annual reauthorisation process for the operation of the online gambling activities on the Romanian market and on day-to-day business matters (e.g. compliance with various reporting requirements with the gambling regulator, compliance with the advertising rules in gambling industry; advice on various taxation matters in the gambling sector etc.).
Assistance in major corporate restructuring and various day-to-day business for one of the leading gambling operators in several CEE countries: legal assistance in the following M&A projects, as well as in relation to a complex internal restructuring process, such as (i) a EUR 85,000,000 acquisition of the entities operating the local gambling business under the brand name “Casa Pariurilor” from Presidio Group, (ii) a EUR 48,000,000 acquisition of Fortbet Romania entities from the parent company Fortbet Holdings Cyprus and (iii) a local intra-group restructuring process involving three mergers on gambling verticals (offline betting, online betting, and slots businesses). Assistance regarding various gambling, corporate, IP and insolvency matters relevant for the entry on the Romanian offline market through acquisitions or take-overs of the businesses of other operators.
Assisting a world leading gaming integrator and content provider on various gambling regulatory matters: legal assistance in the process of obtaining a Romanian 2nd class gambling licence for the supply of gambling software and platform hosting services to Romanian gambling operators. We are currently assisting the client in various periodic statutory reporting with the Romanian gambling regulator (including the payment of the annual license fees, notification of the regulator in the context of various internal corporate restructuring).
Assisting a world leading sportsbook software services provider on various gambling regulatory matters: legal assistance in the process of obtaining a Romanian 2nd class gambling licence for the supply of gambling software (sportsbook software) to Romanian gambling operators. We are currently assisting the client in various periodic statutory reporting with the Romanian gambling regulator (including the payment of the annual license fees, notification of the regulator in the context of various internal corporate restructuring).
Assisting a world leading B2B services provider for the online gambling industry on various gambling regulatory matters and day-to-day activity: legal assistance on regulatory matters relating to client’s plans to set-up a local subsidiary to which a significant part of the business was relocated and in the process of obtaining a Romanian 2nd class gambling licence.
Assisting a leading online gambling industry payment processing services supplier on various gambling regulatory matters: legal assistance in the process of obtaining a Romanian 2nd class gambling licence for the supply of payment processing services to Romanian online gambling operators, as well as assistance in various periodic statutory reporting with the Romanian gambling regulator (including the payment of the annual license fees, notification of the regulator in the context of various internal corporate restructuring).
Assisting a world leading online gambling operator with presence on the Romanian market on taxation regime applicable to online gambling: our advice focused on the taxation regime applicable to online gambling in Romania (e.g. gambling duties, risks of creating a permanent establishment in Romania and becoming subject to corporate tax, VAT regime for online gambling services and the taxation applicable to players’ winnings).
Assisting a leading Romanian offline and online gambling operator on various tax related matters: our legal advice focused on various taxation regimes applicable to gambling activities in Romania, as well as on advertising related issues affecting client’s business on the Romanian gambling market.
Assisting one of the world’s largest betting operators in connection with regulatory changes arising from a major corporate restructuring process: our services covered the Romanian gambling regulatory challenges arising from the merger with another major gambling operator conducting its business under Betfair trademark.
Assisting a French gambling operator holding a premium online betting platform in the process of its exit from the Romanian market: our services covered various regulatory issues in connection with the client’s decision to exit the Romanian market.