Romania is undergoing a significant Romania gambling regulation 2025 overhaul, prompted by political change, ONJN scrutiny, and fresh legislation targeting compliance and player protection.
Key Insights
ONJN enforcement changes
A 2019–2023 Court of Accounts audit revealed ONJN’s weak enforcement, resulting in up to €1 billion in unpaid taxes. New leadership under Vlad‑Cristian Soare signals stricter oversight and enhanced enforcement protocols.
Romania self-exclusion gambling bill
A proposed bill mandates a simplified, digital self-exclusion system via an “opt‑out” button on the ONJN website. It would also require real-time publication of exclusion stats.
Romanian gambling policy shift
The political shift under President Nicușor Dan brought renewed focus on institutional reform. However, comprehensive sector changes are now delayed following a Senate Legal Committee decision to extend review by 60 days, pushing the full Senate debate to June 10, 2025.
Romania gambling reform legislation
Alongside self-exclusion, the reforms include:
- Caps on gambling spending set at 10% of a player’s monthly income, enforced through operators and financial institutions.
- Fines up to 100,000 lei (~€20,000) or six-month license suspensions for non-compliance, including failure to refund excluded players.
What This Means for the Market
- Operators should prepare for stronger enforcement and transparency requirements as ONJN ramps up its compliance regime.
- Digital self-exclusion simplifies user protection but introduces new reporting obligations.
- Financial caps may require system upgrades and collaboration with banks for spend verification.
- Penalties for breach indicate that non-compliance won’t be tolerated.
Want to explore more?
Read the full SBC News article for more context: https://sbcnews.co.uk/europe/2025/05/28/romania-gambling-reforms/
Next Steps for Stakeholders
If you're operating or planning to enter the Romanian gambling market, now is the time to:
- Audit systems for spend limits and reporting tools.
- Build capability for real-time self-exclusion data.
- Engage proactively with ONJN to ensure compliance.
