ONJN convenes council to discuss Romania gambling law reform
Regulation1 min read
Romania’s gambling regulator ONJN has convened its Consultative Council for 18 November 2026 as part of a legislative review. Discussions will cover addiction treatment, self-exclusion, illegal online gambling and licence monitoring; a Court of Accounts audit covering 2019–2023 estimated regulatory liabilities at €630m–€900m.
Romania’s gambling regulator ONJN has convened its Consultative Council for 18 November 2026 as part of a review of gambling legislation. The review seeks to address outdated provisions and inconsistencies in the country’s gambling laws.
The meeting will cover addiction treatment, self-exclusion, illegal online gambling and the management of licence records for audit and compliance. ONJN said its legislative working group had a mandate to analyse and harmonise existing legislation.
An audit by Romania’s Court of Accounts covering 2019 to 2023 was followed by political pressure over ONJN’s performance. The audit found major deficiencies in oversight of licences, tax checks and authorisation fee collection; reported regulatory liabilities were estimated at €630m to €900m.
The review was launched by ONJN’s new president, Valentin-Ioan Tomescu, who took up the role in August. Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan offered no explanation for dismissing the regulator’s previous president, Vlad-Cristian Soare. Following legislative changes affecting online and land-based gambling operators, industry stakeholders want clearer regulation. The regulator has yet to set out a timetable for finishing the review.