Romania’s beleaguered gambling regulator ONJN is undergoing radical reform under new leadership.

After losing nearly €1 billion in tax revenue, ONJN chief Vlad‑Cristian Soare launched immediate measures.

Operators will now face tougher checks, mandatory digital self‑exclusion, funded addiction centers, and smarter controls.

Read on to learn how ONJN is rebuilding trust and restoring fiscal and consumer safeguards.

Romania’s ONJN Reforms: Black Market Crackdown, Digital Self‑Exclusion & Addiction Support

Key Points

• Black Market Blitz: ONJN inspected over 1,000 venues in a month, issued sanctions, revoked licences, and seized 50+ devices.
• Self‑Exclusion Overhaul: Processed 15,000 pending requests, encrypted database, and back support for new legislation.
• Addiction & Social Funding: Earmarked €20 million for treatment centers, youth programs, and national preventive campaigns.

Rebooting Romania’s Gambling Regulation

Troubled Origins

An audit by Romania’s Court of Auditors in early 2025 exposed ONJN’s failures between 2019–2023, showing nearly €1 billion lost in tax revenue due to weak oversight, missing remote access, inconsistent RTP monitoring, and opaque fee reporting.

Simultaneously, deficiencies plagued player protections. Romania lagged behind 17 EU nations with no effective self-exclusion system, highlighting critical weaknesses in responsible gambling policies.

Faced with mounting pressure, Vlad‑Cristian Soare, appointed April 2025, took charge with a mission to rebuild the regulator’s credibility.

1. Crackdown on Illegal Gambling

Within weeks, ONJN deployed more than 1,000 inspections, levying over RON 700,000 in fines, initiating eight criminal cases, suspending and revoking licences, and seizing over 50 unlicensed gaming machines from small towns under 15,000 inhabitants.

These raids were partly driven by citizen complaints. ONJN now plans to share verified data with the Prosecutor’s Office and economic police to intensify enforcement.

2. Strengthening Self-Exclusion

ONJN inherited a backlog of 15,000 unprocessed self-exclusion requests. Within weeks, it cleared the backlog, encrypted its database under GDPR standards, and supports pending legislation to formalize the system.

Parliament expects to debate a bill on June 10, mandating an online self-exclusion registry for operators to act within 24 hours and ONJN to update central records within 48 hours. The proposal includes refunds for losses incurred during exclusion, mandatory six-month bans, and public reporting, with non-compliant operators risking licence suspension.

3. Funding Addiction & Prevention

Operators currently contribute approximately €20 million annually for social responsibility. Previously opaque, these funds now have clear direction: building gambling addiction treatment centers, launching youth education programs, and rolling out national awareness campaigns.

A National Strategy launch is scheduled for June 10 in Parliament, backed by mental health and child protection experts .

4. Digital Oversight & Internal Reform

ONJN is modernizing with digital systems. Targets include internal flow digitalization, streamlined operator interactions, and a robust online monitoring platform.

The digital board will flag suspicious behavior in real-time and accelerate authorizations and compliance processes.

5. National & Political Pressure

A parallel bill aims to cap gambling expenditure at 10% of monthly income, with involvement from banks, tax authorities, and operators.

Romania now aligns with EGBA calls and EU standards for self-exclusion and player safety. It has also recognized problem gambling as a mental health issue, mandating addiction support.

However, political instability and delayed reforms risk jeopardizing progress. President Nicușor Dan’s administration could propose oversight shifts from ONJN to the Ministry of Finance, heightening uncertainty.

Under the leadership of Vlad‑Cristian Soare, ONJN is aggressively rebuilding from crisis. In weeks, it has:

• Targeted the illegal gambling sector
• Fixed a broken self-exclusion system
• Launched addiction support and educational programs
• Embraced digital oversight and accountability

Together, these reforms mark a critical shift toward a responsible and transparent gambling regime. If newly proposed laws pass, ONJN could finally match EU standards on player protection and market legitimacy. However, execution depends on political will and sustained investment.

After years of regulatory dysfunction, Romania may now be building a future where legal gambling supports public health, fills tax coffers, and restores confidence in oversight.