Abstract

The proliferation of gambling infrastructure within the urban environment has emerged as a significant public health concern, particularly in contexts where commercial interests intersect with the socio-economic vulnerability of resident populations. The paper investigates the spatial distribution of slot-machine gambling venues across important Romanian cities, testing the hypothesis of predatory placement. Utilizing February 2026 official licensing data from the National Office for Gambling (ONJN) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), the research conducts a comprehensive geospatial accessibility analysis relative to sensitive community infrastructures. These include educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and religious sites, alongside socio-economically vulnerable residential zones. The methodology integrates network-based isochrone analysis, spatial density mapping, and proximity modeling to quantify effective accessibility within defined spatial ranges. These techniques identify high-exposure zones where dense gambling clusters intersect with protected institutional environments and marginalized populations. Results indicate a statistically significant spatial correlation between venue density and the immediate proximity of these sensitive community facilities. Furthermore, the findings provide a spatial evidence base for recent legislative shifts which empower local authorities to implement localized bans on physical gambling venues. Ultimately, this research illustrates how venue accessibility fosters urban risk landscapes, suggesting that local spatial autonomy is an essential pillar in mitigating gambling-related social harm.

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