Romania’s ONJN Faces Scrutiny Over Gambling Oversight Failures

The Romanian government is cracking down on gambling regulation failures.

A shocking audit report has revealed serious supervisory failings at the National Gambling Office (ONJN), prompting parliamentary intervention.

The findings suggest that the state may have lost up to €900 million in gambling tax revenue due to regulatory negligence.

Lawmakers are demanding immediate answers, with calls for criminal investigations into the ONJN’s failure to monitor gambling operators effectively.

Romanian Government Demands Answers Over Gambling Regulator’s Supervision Failings

Key Points:

1. ONJN Leadership Summoned to Parliament Over Regulatory Failures

   • The audit report exposed major gaps in ONJN’s supervision, leading to potential multi-billion-lei tax losses.

2. Gambling Tax Revenue Losses Estimated at €630m–€900m

   • The ONJN failed to implement remote access to gambling operators’ systems, making proper financial oversight impossible.

3. Government Considers Further Gambling Reforms

   • The scandal could accelerate stricter gambling regulations following last year’s rural gambling ban.

Parliament Investigates ONJN After Damning Audit Report

The Romanian government is demanding urgent explanations from the leadership of the National Gambling Office (ONJN) after an audit revealed major regulatory failings.

The Court of Accounts (CCR) report flagged serious issues with ONJN’s oversight of gambling licence fees, taxation, and return-to-player (RTP) verification.

Massive Tax Losses Due to Poor Supervision

The audit suggests the Romanian government may have lost between 3.3 and 4.3 billion lei (€630 million–€900 million) due to ONJN’s failure to:

• Remotely monitor gambling operator transactions
• Verify financial data submitted by licensees
• Enforce legal penalties for non-compliance

Without proper regulatory oversight, gambling operators may have underreported their revenues, costing the Romanian state a substantial amount in unpaid taxes.

Diana Stoica, a deputy from the Save Romania Union Party (USR), has called for ONJN leaders to appear before the IT Committee to provide answers.

“The heads of ONJN facilitated a huge fraud and enabled the destruction of lives,” Stoica said. “Romanians spent 12.5 billion lei on online gambling in 2023, yet the ONJN failed to perform its basic duties.”

Lawmakers Demand Action Against ONJN Leadership

Senator Ciprian Rus, Chair of the IT Committee, has joined the calls for an investigation into ONJN’s failings.

“The passive attitude and tacit complicity of ONJN leadership demonstrate either gross incompetence or systemic corruption,” Rus stated. “We demand clear answers and firm commitments to ensure illegalities will not be repeated.”

The controversy has placed ONJN President Gheorghe-Gabriel Gheorghe under heavy scrutiny.

Gheorghe, appointed in 2023, is the fifth person to lead the ONJN since 2018, raising concerns over frequent leadership changes and ongoing regulatory instability.

Adding to ONJN’s credibility issues, the Romanian Ministry of Finance faced backlash last year for appointing celebrity hairstylist Cristian-Gabriel Pascu as the agency’s vice-president—a decision that was quickly reversed following public outcry.

Could This Scandal Trigger More Gambling Reforms?

Last year, Romanian lawmakers approved Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu’s executive order banning gambling in small rural towns.

Now, with ONJN facing allegations of negligence, the government could tighten restrictions on the industry even further.

Possible reforms may include:

• Stronger financial monitoring tools for gambling operators
• Increased penalties for non-compliance
• A crackdown on unlicensed gambling activities
• Further limitations on gambling advertising

The scandal has already eroded trust in Romania’s regulatory system, and without immediate corrective action, public and political pressure for stricter laws will only grow.

A Major Reckoning for Romania’s Gambling Regulator

The ONJN faces an uphill battle to restore credibility after this massive audit scandal.

Potential multi-billion-lei tax losses and weak regulatory enforcement have triggered calls for criminal investigations and urgent reforms.

Lawmakers are demanding accountability, and the government may respond with even stricter gambling laws in the coming months.

As Romania’s gambling market continues to grow, ensuring transparency, compliance, and responsible oversight will be critical to maintaining industry integrity and public confidence.