Household service volume in Romania declines significantly in Q1, primarily due to decreased gambling activities
In Q1 2021, Romanian gambling and betting houses witnessed a considerable downturn (-12.5%) in their operations, resulting in a 2.6% year-on-year decrease in the overall volume of services provided to households, as revealed by data from the National Institute of Statistics (INS).
The primary market segment, encompassing hotels and restaurants, saw a minimal 0.2% year-on-year decline.
In stark contrast, the turnover of tour operators in Romania plummeted by 17.3% year-on-year in Q1. This drop is likely attributed to the government no longer prolonging holiday vouchers for employees in the budgetary sector this year.
Remarkably, the beauty salon sector flourished, boasting a staggering 25% year-on-year surge in activity.
During Q1 2021, factors impacting gambling activity may have included increased regulation, economic conditions, and public health measures, such as lockdowns and social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A shift towards online platforms may also have influenced traditional betting houses' decline, if they had not sufficiently adapted to digital platforms.
[1] Source: Data from National Institute of Statistics (INS) for Q1 2025 showed a partial decline in the volume of services to households in Romania, including gambling, due to reduced gambling activity. Specific factors for Q1 2021 were not detailed in the data.
(Photo source: Arlawka Aungtun/Dreamstime.com)
Neglecting the adaptation to digital platforms could have contributed to the decline in traditional betting houses within the gambling industry, impacting their financial performance. In a separated sector, the finance industry may benefit as more people shift their gambling activities towards online platforms, seeking digital forms of entertainment due to lockdowns and social distancing measures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
