Superbet says it will not close its betting shops in Romania after cities gained new powers in February 2026

Superbet, Romania’s market leader, has said it will keep its retail betting locations open despite pressure from local authorities to shut down gambling venues. For PSPs and acquiring teams, the point is straightforward: this is a local-licensing and municipal-enforcement story, not a broad market exit.

1. At the end of February 2026, the authority to approve gambling venues in Romania moved from the ONJN regulator to city halls. Under the new setup, municipalities gained the power to completely close betting shops and slot halls on their territory.
2. Several cities have already said they want land-based gambling gone entirely: Slatina, Ploiești, Brăila, Rădăuți, and Timișoara.
3. Superbet, which the source describes as Romania’s market leader, says it will not close its physical points of sale on the cities’ request. The company puts its footprint at 950 POS, with 40% of the total market and 25.6% of the online market.
4. In its statement, Superbet said it respects the legal framework and local administration decisions, but also said some of those decisions affect its employees. The company said it chose to protect itself and keep its colleagues.
5. Instead of shutting venues, Superbet says it will convert the shops that are unwelcome to local administrations into “Superliga Houses” — spaces where people can meet, watch Superliga and major competitions together, and get direct help from familiar staff. As the main partner of Superliga, the company says it has a responsibility to Romanian football and to the people who follow it.