More and more Moldovan citizens are accessing online gambling through platforms that are not authorized in the Republic of Moldova. These platforms operate outside any state control, which means real risks to citizens’ money and personal data.
Difficulties in the blocking process. Why are there still so many unauthorized websites
Blocking them is not a simple task for several reasons:
owners quickly create “mirror” pages or new addresses, so a blocked website reappears within a few hours under a different name;
many users bypass blocks using VPNs or alternative DNS servers;
the permanent removal of a “.md” domain requires a legal procedure involving several institutions.
What PSA does
PSA monitors the online space together with the National Lottery and licensed operators and identifies websites, applications and platforms that offer gambling without authorization;
publishes and updates the list of unauthorized websites;
notifies the National Agency for Regulation in Electronic Communications (ARCOM), which orders technical blocking by internet service providers, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which investigates and holds illegal organizers accountable. The National Cyber Security Agency oversees the resilience of networks and essential infrastructures and cooperates institutionally by monitoring hybrid threats, but does not block pages based on economic criteria.
sends banks and payment service providers daily the identifiers used by illegal platforms in order to block transactions to them;
receives reports from any person — not only licensed operators — regarding suspicious platforms.
(!) PSA does not have data on the number of people accessing unauthorized platforms and has neither the authority nor the technical means to intercept, monitor or analyze citizens’ internet traffic — such actions are restricted by legislation on personal data protection and the confidentiality of correspondence
PSA results so far
With PSA support, more than 7,600 illegal websites and platforms have been identified and included in the blocking mechanism (compared with only 735 in 2021).
Thanks to the measures taken by the Public Services Agency and legal gambling operators in the country to identify and block unauthorized platforms, proper channeling of financial flows has been ensured, resulting in an increase in state budget revenues — from 65,467,363 lei in 2021 to a peak of 504,560,848 lei in 2025. This strong trend continues in 2026, with 436,253,595 lei accumulated in the first half of the year alone.
More than 100 notifications have been sent to unauthorized operators and international content providers, with requests that have already resulted in geographical restrictions imposed by some platforms.
What comes next
PSA, the Public Property Agency and the National Lottery of Moldova are preparing an Intelligent Platform for Identifying Unauthorized Websites, which is at the final approval stage. Through automated data exchange via the government MConnect platform, it will significantly reduce the time from detecting an illegal website to blocking it.
What you can do to avoid putting your money at risk
Check the list of unauthorized websites: asp.gov.md/ro/date-deschise/jocuri-de-noroc-nu-autorizate
Do not make payments to platforms that are not included in the list of authorized operators.
Notify PSA if you identify a suspicious illegal gambling platform.
What you risk by playing on unauthorized platforms
Deposited funds are not protected by any legal mechanism — if the platform disappears or refuses to make a payment, you will lose the money permanently.
Personal data provided during registration may fall into unauthorized hands.
There is no guarantee that any winnings will be paid.
These platforms do not comply with responsible gambling rules designed to protect you from addiction and uncontrolled losses.
Organizing and accessing gambling outside authorized operators (the National Lottery, licensed casinos) is illegal and may result in criminal liability for organizers.