Moldova is preparing further action against illegal gambling platforms while moving ahead with a proposed gambling tax under its 2027 fiscal policy.
At a 15 October cabinet session, Prime Minister Vasile Tofan said authorities should block access to unauthorised sites and prevent payments to them. The government has also backed amendments that would introduce a 6% gambling tax and require the National Lottery or its partner to pay 25% of gross gaming revenue.
Authorities Plan To Block Illegal Platforms And Disrupt Their Payments
To restrict illegal operators, Moldova is working with banks, payment providers and internet service companies.
The National Bank is involved in blocking payments, while the Information Technology and Cyber Security Service restricts access to unauthorised platforms. As of 2 September, more than 7,600 illegal sites and platforms had been added to the country’s blocking lists, compared with 735 in 2021.
The Public Services Agency compiles the list with input from licensed gambling operators, including Moldova’s National Lottery. Banks and payment providers receive daily information to help identify illegal platforms, while internet providers are instructed to block access.
Authorities are also preparing an intelligent platform to identify unlicensed sites automatically. The Public Services Agency, Public Property Agency and National Lottery plan to exchange information through the government’s MConnect system.
Mirror Sites And VPNs Continue To Limit The Effectiveness Of Blocking
Moldova’s current enforcement model faces several practical obstacles. Illegal operators can create mirror sites or new domain names within hours of a block, while users can bypass restrictions through VPNs and alternative DNS services.
Removing a .md domain also requires a legal procedure involving several agencies. The Public Services Agency does not have the authority to monitor citizens’ internet activity, making it difficult to establish how many residents continue to use blocked platforms.
The problem is not limited to Moldova. Authorities in Kazakhstan recently dismantled money-mule networks that processed payments for online casinos through nominee bank cards.
Proposed Gambling Tax Would Apply To Deposits And Lottery Tickets
The proposed 6% tax would apply to participation in gambling and lotteries. Although the tax would be paid by organisers, it would be calculated on amounts deposited into gaming accounts and on the value of lottery tickets.
Also, the draft proposes a 25% tax on gross gaming revenue for the National Lottery or its partner. Gross gaming revenue would be calculated by subtracting winnings from the amount collected from players.
For example, if a company collected 100 lei and paid out 80 lei in winnings, the taxable amount would be the remaining 20 lei. The 2027 fiscal package is expected to generate around 5.1 billion lei in additional state revenue.
Advertising Restrictions Could Be Reconsidered For Legal Operators
Tofan also criticised restrictions affecting the National Lottery’s advertising, arguing that they had placed the state-owned operator at a disadvantage against foreign businesses.
According to Blask data, the National Lottery accounted for 74.17% of market demand among 75 tracked brands in Moldova in September 2026. The remaining demand was divided among other brands, including unlicensed operators.
Therefore, authorities may seek to combine stricter blocking measures with more favourable advertising conditions for legal operators. This could help the National Lottery retain customers while reducing the influence of the grey market.
Moldova is linking enforcement, payment controls and taxation in an attempt to strengthen its regulated gambling monopoly. Blocking thousands of sites shows the scale of the problem, but mirror domains and VPNs mean enforcement will require continuous technical investment.
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