Operators in Romania are facing a sharp rise in regulatory enforcement.

ONJN has begun issuing maximum fines—up to 100,000 RON—for allowing self-excluded individuals access to gambling.

This isn’t just a local compliance issue. It’s about reputation, licensing integrity, and operational risk across all verticals.

Operators must align internal procedures, staff training, and database checks with ONJN’s exclusion protocols—immediately.

Key Takeaways for Operators:

• The fine is real: ONJN recently fined a venue 100,000 RON for allowing a self-excluded player to gamble.
• No legal effect: Self-exclusion withdrawals must be submitted only to ONJN. Operator forms are invalid.
• Zero tolerance: Operators are forbidden from collecting, forwarding, or facilitating withdrawal requests.
• Mandatory transmission: Any auto-exclusion request must be sent to ONJN within 2 working days, with ID attached.
• Retail vs. Online parity: L94/2025 aims to merge land-based and online exclusion into a unified national system.

Romania’s ONJN Gets Tough: Self-Exclusion Breaches Now a Major Liability for Operators

As an iGaming consultant with over 25 years of experience navigating licensing and regulatory frameworks across Europe, I’ve seen how regulatory enforcement tends to evolve. Romania, in particular, is entering a new era of player protection enforcement, with the National Gambling Office (ONJN) significantly tightening its approach toward self-exclusion violations.

The message to operators is loud and clear:
Comply with exclusion rules—or pay the price.

The self-exclusion regime in Romania, once treated passively by some operators, is now a high-risk compliance point. ONJN has both the legal authority and the technological infrastructure to monitor enforcement in real time.

Operators are granted access to ONJN’s centralized exclusion database and are legally required to check it before granting service. The legislation leaves no room for ambiguity: allowing excluded players to access games—whether by negligence or intent—results in heavy penalties.

And ONJN is no longer bluffing. In Pitești, a recent control found that a venue not only allowed a self-excluded player to gamble but also handed them a consent withdrawal form on site—a direct violation of Article 15 of GEO 77/2009.

The Legal Backbone: GEO 77/2009

Under the law, operators must:

“Prevent access to self-excluded and undesirable persons listed in the ONJN database.”

Failing to do so leads to fines ranging from 50,000 to 100,000 RON, with no grace period once the exclusion becomes effective.

Effectiveness is automatic: one calendar day after submission to ONJN, from 00:00.

What’s critical is that operators have no authority in processing withdrawal of exclusion. Any form submitted directly to a venue is legally null and void. This measure ensures that individuals in vulnerable mental or emotional states cannot be influenced by venue staff, marketing efforts, or high-pressure environments.

Future Outlook: L94/2025 and Cool-Off Reform

According to ONJN president Vlad-Cristian Soare, more reforms are coming—and rightly so.

Among the most important:

• A mandatory “cool-off” period, during which excluded players cannot withdraw their consent.
• A centralized national database covering both retail and online gambling, ensuring a unified exclusion procedure across platforms.

These are embedded in Legislative Proposal L94/2025, already approved by the Senate and pending approval by the Chamber of Deputies.

Soare’s stance is firm:

“We will continue inspections and impose strict penalties until every operator understands that these rules are not negotiable.”

Expert Conclusion: Enforcement Is the New Reality

From a regulatory and operational perspective, the Romanian gambling market is maturing fast. ONJN is no longer focused solely on licensing and reporting—it’s now becoming a compliance enforcement body, similar to the UKGC or MGA.

Operators who fail to adapt risk more than financial penalties:

• Loss of player trust
• Damage to their brand
• Negative licensing record
• Potential revocation or denial of future approvals

For any serious iGaming operator, the solution is simple:
Treat player protection with the same urgency as fraud prevention or AML compliance.

Build automated checks. Train staff. Review internal procedures.
Because in 2025 and beyond—compliance will be your license to operate.

Tags: #iGamingCompliance #ONJN #RomaniaGamingLaw #ResponsibleGaming #RegulatoryRisk #SelfExclusion #PlayerProtection