Lottery tickets are legal in Moldova under a state monopoly system established by Law No. 291 of December 16, 2016, regarding the organization and conduct of gambling. The Moldovan gambling sector is regulated by this law, which establishes the way of organizing and carrying out activities in the field of gambling, the rights and obligations of the game organizer and the player, the state policy in the respective field, as well as the restrictions on the development of this activity to protect the morality, rights and legitimate interests of citizens (1). The management of gambling activities, which constitute a state monopoly, is carried out through the Joint Stock Company National Lottery of Moldova.
The state monopoly includes organizing and managing lotteries, organizing the operation of gaming rooms with gaming machines with monetary winnings, organizing and running bets for sports competitions and events, and organizing games of chance through electronic communication networks (1). The regulatory body of the gambling business in Moldova is the joint stock company Loteria Nationala a Moldovei, which is subordinated to the Ministry of Finance and determines the licensing and taxation of gambling establishments as well as their location (2). According to the legislation, participation in lottery games is permitted for persons aged 18 years and older.
"The management of gambling activities, which constitute a state monopoly, is carried out through the Joint Stock Company National Lottery of Moldova. Thus, of all the gambling activities regulated by this law, only the casino maintenance activity can be practised freely by the legal entities and is subject to authorization through licensing."
In the Republic of Moldova, the state regulation of the activity in the field of organizing and conducting games of chance is carried out by Parliament, Government, and the Public Services Agency (1). The supervision and state control of the activity in the field of gambling are exercised by the State Inspectorate for the Supervision of Non-Food Products and Consumer Protection, as well as by other authorities of the public administration empowered with the right of control and supervision. Revenues to the state budget due to the activities of the National Lottery of Moldova increased significantly from 460 thousand lei in 2012 to 65.5 million lei in 2021.
Source:
https://gratanet.com/publications/gambling-sector-in-the-republic-of-moldova
https://www.gga.org.ge/en/world/26
Last updated: 16-10-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
