The ONJN has unveiled its programme for 2026.
Romania.- The Romanian gambling regulator ONJN has unveiled its programme for 2026, setting out measures to reinforce compliance and restore regulatory credibility across the market. ONJN president Vlad‑Cristian Soare, who took the helm last May, has framed the strategy as essential to rebuilding trust following failings identified in a damning audit of the ONJN’s performance.
Soare said 2025 had seen the regulator navigate an “uncomfortable path” but that it had made “tangible progress in the fight against illegal gambling and towards greater transparency.” He pointed to achievements such as the seizure of more than 200 gaming machines, the blocking of over 200 illegal websites and 48 criminal complaints tied to financial crime and unlicensed activity.
Among new initiatives are the ONJN’s WhatsApp reporting channel, allowing citizens to flag suspected illegal gaming machines. In the online space, ONJN reported a 98 per cent removal rate for illegal gambling content across platforms operated by Meta, Google, and TikTok.
Enforcement will remain the regulator’s top priority in 2026, supported by two new systems scheduled for rollout in the first quarter: a nationwide self‑exclusion scheme covering both retail and online gambling, and a geolocation‑based QR system integrated into ONJN’s central register, which will allow anyone to verify where gaming machines are located, who owns them and whether they are licensed.
The new self‑exclusion process will be overseen directly by ONJN, introducing defined exclusion periods and a mandatory cool‑off period.
The operator is also introducing the automated monitoring of transactions and bonuses and a new electronic document platform enabling operators to interact with ONJN entirely digitally. It will also roll out a redesigned website and petitions portal.
Meanwhile, to support harm‑reduction efforts, the ONJN has announced its first structured investment in community initiatives. For 2026, it’s allocated €5m in funding to local authorities and civil society groups for prevention, education and intervention programmes.
Looking further ahead, calls continue for an overhaul of gambling legislation in Romania. Acknowledging the political scrutiny, Soare has given his backing to such calls, describing existing Romanian gambling law as ”morally outdated.”
Lawmakers have already submitted around 20 pieces of draft legislation that propose changes that range from raising the legal gambling age to 21 to banning untargeted gambling advertising or sports sponsorships. Some legislators have even called for the ONJN to be replaced by a new regulatory body due to the loss of public trust.
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