Romania proposes emergency ordinance to strengthen self-exclusion system
Table of contents
- Romania’s ONJN submits emergency ordinance proposal to the Ministry of Finance for a unified national self-exclusion framework.
- Proposal includes clearly defined exclusion periods, mandatory cooling-off windows, and player refund rights for breaches.
- ONJN proposes expanding enforcement powers to Romanian police and launching €5 million ‘Aware and Free’ funding programme for problem gambling prevention.
Romania’s gambling regulator has submitted an emergency ordinance proposal to overhaul the country’s self-exclusion framework, aiming to close legislative gaps and establish centralised player protection measures binding on all operators.
The Oficiul Național pentru Jocuri de Noroc (ONJN) presented the draft legislation to the Ministry of Finance, proposing a single national self-exclusion procedure managed centrally by ONJN and applicable to both online and land-based gambling operators.
Unified framework and player protections
Under the proposed amendments, players would be able to self-exclude for clearly defined periods, including an indefinite option. A mandatory cooling-off period would prevent early withdrawal of self-exclusion requests, aligning Romania with player protection standards in mature European gambling markets.
The draft ordinance proposes a refund mechanism for self-excluded players who were incorrectly allowed to gamble. Such players would be entitled to recover deposited funds, minus any withdrawals made during the relevant period.
Vlad-Cristian Soare, ONJN president, said:
“I promised that self-exclusion will not remain a paper project, as I found it when I took office, but will be implemented in three stages: functioning within the current regulatory framework, legislative amendment to remove existing dysfunctions, and implementing a modern IT solution.”
The self-exclusion reform arrives as Romania’s gambling sector undergoes significant regulatory tightening. ONJN recently uncovered tens of millions in unpaid gambling taxes during audits of licensed operators, whilst separately the government is expected to settle gambling advertising reforms by early 2026.
Enforcement and operator obligations
The proposal requires retail gambling venues to install identification systems and surveillance cameras. Operators failing to meet these requirements would face fines between RON50,000 and RON100,000 (approximately £8,800 to £17,600).
Breaches of self-exclusion rules would carry similar penalties, with licence suspension possible in cases of repeated or serious violations. The ordinance clarifies the distinction between “self-exclusion”, managed centrally by ONJN, and “restriction”, defined as a bilateral commercial arrangement between operator and player.
Online operators must display clear self-exclusion information on their websites. Land-based venues would be required to install QR codes linking directly to ONJN’s self-exclusion portal, simplifying access for players.
The proposal also recommends expanding enforcement powers beyond ONJN inspectors to include Romanian police officers, addressing territorial coverage challenges and strengthening compliance monitoring across the country.
Technology partnership and implementation timeline
The regulatory initiative follows ONJN’s February 2026 cooperation protocol with the National Institute for Research and Development in Informatics (ICI Bucharest) to develop a modernised digital platform for player self-exclusion.
The new IT system will enable remote self-exclusion through ID scanning and biometric verification, replacing the existing technical solution. Adrian Victor Vevera, ICI director general, stated that the platform would align with European best practices in digitalising player protection processes.
Soare outlined implementation across three stages: operation under the current framework, legislative amendment to remove dysfunctions, and rollout of the modern IT solution.
The regulator has launched a €5 million funding programme (‘Aware and Free’), with rollout expected in 2026, to support local authorities and civil society groups in prevention, education, and intervention programmes targeting problem gambling.
The emergency ordinance proposal forms part of broader reform efforts under Soare, who assumed the ONJN presidency in May 2025 following the resignation of his predecessor.
Market consolidation has continued alongside the regulatory push, with Super Technologies acquiring Maxbet’s online operations in Romania and Malta, whilst content providers such as Iconic21 have expanded partnerships with local operators.
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About the author
Bianca Máthe
Bianca Mathe joined the iGaming industry in 2018 and has since built extensive experience across multiple verticals, working with international gaming organizations on editorial, marketing, and media strategy. She brings a strong understanding of the regulatory, commercial, and technological forces shaping the global iGaming sector.
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