Romanian gambling authority highlights the impact of its expanded powers

(AsiaGameHub) –   The ONJN has released its yearly performance summary, outlining the regulatory and enforcement measures taken throughout the previous year.

Romania. The National Office for Gambling (ONJN) has underscored the effectiveness of recent regulatory reforms in its annual activity report for the period spanning April 2025 to April 2026, with a specific focus on its crackdown on unauthorized gambling activities.

During this timeframe, the ONJN executed more than 60 takedown notices and added over 300 illicit gambling domains to its blacklist. Furthermore, probes into suspected GGR (gross gaming revenue) manipulation and tax evasion resulted in 70 criminal referrals and the cancellation of 60 operating licences.

From April 2025 to April 2026, the ONJN conducted approximately 11,000 audits, seized or deactivated 260 pieces of equipment, and initiated 70 criminal cases.

These actions follow the implementation of Law no. 141/2025, which broadened the ONJN’s regulatory authority. The legislation empowers the body to mandate the removal of illegal gambling material and requires class II licence holders to submit monthly reports regarding player attempts to access unlicensed sites.

Brick-and-mortar gaming operators underwent roughly 7,000 inspections, resulting in 8.1 million lei (€1.5 million) in penalties. Additionally, 3,500 audits of online operators led to fines amounting to 1.2 million lei.

The regulator also reported progress in its self-exclusion protocols. After inheriting a backlog of over 30,000 pending requests at the start of its term, the system now protects approximately 54,000 individuals.

A proposed Emergency Ordinance currently with the Ministry of Finance seeks to establish a standardized self-exclusion system for both physical and digital operators. This would require mandatory identity verification, cooling-off periods, and fines reaching 100,000 lei for non-compliance.

The ONJN also introduced a public digital registry for gaming machines, managed via the Government Private Cloud. Every machine is now required to display a QR code for registration and geolocation tracking, a system the regulator describes as a “unique European mechanism.”

President Vlad-Cristian Soare stated: “This year has demonstrated that progress is achievable. It is neither simple nor free from resistance. We have encountered obstacles, opposition, and efforts to impede vital projects, both internally and externally.”

He further noted: “We have stayed the course, continued our projects, and the investigations and initiatives we have launched must be seen through to completion.”

In the meantime, following the central government’s move to decentralize licensing, more local jurisdictions are prohibiting the authorization of new physical slot parlors. On Monday, officials in Iasi voted unanimously to ban slot machine operations within the city, with councillors now seeking to prohibit gambling-related advertising as well.

Similarly, gaming venues in Sibiu are set to be phased out as their existing permits expire, following a local council vote. Mayor Astrid Fodor confirmed that at least three establishments have already shuttered due to expired licences.

Fodor remarked that the council’s decision “aligned with the results of public opinion surveys and debates; during the initial public consultation, citizens voiced the same perspective.”