Romania’s government is planning to close its main gambling authority, the National Gambling Office (ONJN), after reports revealed big failures and over €1 billion in lost tax money. The decision comes after strong criticism from politicians, public groups, and experts who believe the regulator is no longer working properly.
Regulator Failed to Collect €1 Billion in Taxes
A recent audit done by Romania’s Court of Accounts found that ONJN failed to collect nearly €1 billion in gambling taxes between 2019 and 2023.
The report pointed out many issues:
- ONJN used old and outdated IT systems
- It did not track return-to-player (RTP) rates correctly
- There was weak control over gambling licenses
- It failed to enforce the 2% monthly tax on online gambling fees
Due to all these problems, lawmakers and experts believe ONJN is no longer able to manage the country’s gambling sector properly.
Hope Was There, But Not Enough
When Vlad-Cristian Soare became the new president of ONJN, people had hope that things would improve. He promised to:
- Upgrade the office’s IT system
- Hire better staff
- Work closely with Romania’s tax department (ANAF)
But critics said these changes were too small and too late. Slowly, political pressure increased, and now many believe that ONJN’s duties should be given to the Ministry of Finance and ANAF directly.
Black Market Gambling Is Growing Fast
While ONJN was failing, the illegal gambling market in Romania kept growing. Many gambling websites are working without a license, targeting vulnerable people and avoiding national rules.
Experts say the delay in creating responsible gambling laws has helped these black market operators. Without strong rules, the number of people getting harmed by gambling and the amount of unpaid tax will keep rising.
Government Planning New Tax Rules for Gambling
As part of a new plan, Romania’s government is now working on new tax rules for the gambling sector. One big idea is a 20% tax on all gambling activity. There is also talk about adding a health contribution to this tax.
This is not the only tax change happening. The government also wants to tax influencers and high-income earners using a solidarity tax.
New Law for Self-Exclusion in Progress
Even though ONJN is facing closure, one positive step has been taken. Romania’s Senate recently passed a new bill focused on responsible gambling.
This bill would:
- Add a self-exclusion feature on the ONJN website
- Allow people to block their gambling access for 12, 24, or 36 months
- Create a national registry of self-excluded players
- Require licensed operators to refund any bets made during the exclusion period within 48 hours
The bill got 118 votes in favor and now goes to the Chamber of Deputies for final approval.
Gambling Ads Face New Restrictions
Authorities in Romania are also planning to limit gambling advertisements, especially those involving celebrities and public figures.
The National Audiovisual Council (CNA) has proposed:
- A ban on celebrity-endorsed gambling ads
- Limiting gambling ads to late-night hours or live sports events only
This shows a strong move towards tight control on gambling promotions, especially online.
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