Romania delays review of gambling reforms as new President sets agenda 

The Senate of Romania has opted to prolong plenary discussions on comprehensive gambling reforms sought by the Save Romania Union (USR) party.

The extension was granted by the Senate’s Legal Committee following the conclusion of the country’s rescheduled General Election on 18 May. The election had initially been annulled in November 2024 due to proven incidents of foreign interference.

Bucharest Mayor Nicușor Dan won the presidential vote as an independent candidate, running on an “Honest Romania” campaign to end the partisan instability of Romanian politics.

Sworn into office on 26 May as Romania’s head of state, Dan has yet to appoint his cabinet of senior ministers and a Prime Minister charged with coordinating the government’s affairs and legislative agenda.

Mirroring its political backdrop, Romania’s gambling sector is navigating a period of instability due to the National Gambling Office (ONJN) being marred by scandals involving mismanagement, opaque licensing practices, and a perceived lack of enforcement against non-compliant operators.

A headline infringement emerged following an audit of ONJN covering the period 2019 to 2023, which revealed significant regulatory failures that may have cost the Romanian state approximately €1bn in uncollected taxes and fees — a charge that ONJN denies.

The significance of Romania concluding its election process is highlighted by Stanislava Yautodzyeva, Head of Analytics at 4H Agency: “The presidential election marked a moment of political recalibration rather than disruption, but expectations for a major shift in gambling policy remain limited. Nicușor Dan, elected on 18 May, is widely regarded as a stabilising figure following the annulled far-right surge earlier this year.

“While Dan’s platform does not address gambling directly, his focus on institutional reform, anti-corruption, and fiscal discipline points to likely continued regulatory tightening—particularly through stronger enforcement and oversight.”

Overhaul of oversight

The USR is leading calls for a root-and-branch overhaul of Romania’s gambling sector, proposing that interim regulatory control be transferred to the Ministry of Finance and the National Tax Administration Agency (ANAF).

Sanctioned by USR Senate leader Ciprian Rus, the party has introduced two distinct bills designed to reduce harm and modernise regulatory oversight.

Bill 1 seeks to simplify self-exclusion for Romanian citizens, requiring ONJN to provide a prominent opt-out button on its website. This would allow players to immediately block access to online gambling operators, replacing the outdated process involving in-person visits and handwritten forms. ONJN would also be required to publish real-time statistics on exclusion requests to improve transparency and public accountability.

Bill 2 proposes a “hard ceiling” on gambling spend, limiting consumer outlay to no more than 10% of an individual’s declared monthly income.
Enforcement would fall jointly on operators, financial institutions, and tax authorities — placing affordability checks and data-sharing firmly on the agenda.

However, USR has faced criticism for submitting Bill 2 without adequate consultation with relevant agencies regarding the technical feasibility of implementing such checks and expenditure caps.

Furthermore the Senate’s delay questions the political leverage of USR, following Romania elections, as noted by Stanislava Yautodzyeva: “The Save Romania Union (USR), once led by Dan and recently destabilised by internal conflict and electoral underperformance, is not expected to play a significant legislative role in the short term. Its vision of liberal reform remains politically sidelined.

The recent resignation of its leader Elena Lasconi, following a fractured campaign and a mere 2.7% vote share, underlines the party’s diminished standing.”

USR: new government must fix regulatory shortfalls

The party describes Romania’s gambling sector as “a social emergency”, plagued by lax controls, inconsistent enforcement, and escalating harm.

Civil society, addiction specialists and public health experts have echoed the call for urgent reform, including stronger marketing restrictions, parental controls, and automated exclusion mechanisms.

“The state has a duty to intervene when individual freedoms risk turning into personal disasters,” stated Ciprian Rus.

“The ONJN has failed in its basic duty to protect the public. It has become a passive observer in an industry rife with malpractice, lacking transparency, accountability, and the digital tools required for modern oversight. This is why urgent structural reform is no longer optional — it’s a necessity.”

Senate delays reform review

Despite rising public concern, reform momentum has slowed — at least temporarily. The Senate’s Legal Committee voted to extend debate on the self-exclusion bill from 45 to 60 days, citing legal complexities.

“We are dealing with two expressions of will: the initial act of self-exclusion, and a potential retraction of that decision,” noted Committee Chair Ion Rujan.

“These raise fundamental questions about legal reversibility. More time is needed for a proper assessment.”

A full Senate debate is scheduled for 10 June. If passed, the legislation will move to the Chamber of Deputies for final approval.

The proposed reforms carry significant enforcement measures. Operators would be required to report exclusion data to ONJN under tighter deadlines, refund deposits made after failed exclusions, and could face fines of up to 100,000 lei (€20,000 )or licence suspension for six months if found in breach.

ONJN begins new chapter

The delay follows Romania’s turbulent presidential election, which concluded with voters electing Nicușor Dan on an anti-corruption platform. With Dan yet to appoint a Prime Minister or form a cabinet, legislative progress across multiple fronts remains slow.

However, changes are already underway at ONJN, which begins a new chapter under the leadership of Vlad-Cristian Soare, appointed President of the National Gambling Office in April, succeeding Gheorghe Gabriel Gheorghe.

Soare’s appointment, formally communicated to Romanian authorities, comes at a critical moment as the regulator faces intense scrutiny for past failings, in which Soare has vowed to adopt a tougher enforcement agenda.

Taking leadership of ONJN, Soare acknowledged the political sensitivities surrounding the regulation of gambling in Romania: 

“My political colour is decency. That’s what I told my colleagues. I think that, beyond the differences, we need to remember what unites us: honest work, professionalism, balance.”

ONJN changes are viewed pragmatically by 4H Agency, Stanislava Yautodzyeva: “The incoming administration and the newly appointed regulator of Vlad Soare are both signalling a more technocratic, policy-driven era. Operators should not expect relief from recent tax increases or marketing restrictions.

Rather, the future lies in structured dialogue, enhanced compliance expectations, and gradual alignment with the broader European regulatory climate.”