Transport Minister Sorin Grindeanu says he gambled during his studies “but not more than twice”.

Asked on the Political Insider show aired on Prima TV on Saturday if he had ever gambled, Grindeanu said, according to News.ro: “To be honest, I think yes, in college, but not anymore twice Not more! However, being a good math student, info, these arrangements didn’t sit well with me. He lost, of course, but not by much. And I didn’t play anymore.”

When asked if he was tempted to smoke weed, Grindeanu replied: “No. I didn’t smoke.”

On Thursday, the government passed an emergency decree imposing higher taxes on the gambling industry, banning alcohol in venues, increasing guarantees provided by companies and requiring operators to have their headquarters in Romania.

“Reality shows that all limits have been exceeded! It is not normal for the betting industry to have so much power! During the pandemic, they sat down at the Government table! Now they are threatening politicians and firing journalists, buying protection at the top of a foreign trust that owns two major Romanian newspapers,” said Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu.

• The emergency order on new gambling taxes can be found here