New ONJN President Orders Administrative Review of Romania’s Gambling Regulator

Romania’s National Gambling Office (ONJN) has been placed under administrative review by its new president, Valentin‑Ioan Tomescu. The new president has set digitalisation, staffing, and tackling gambling addiction as his immediate priorities, according to iGamingExpert.

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Tomescu’s appointment on 21 August by Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan followed the sudden removal of Vlad‑Cristian Soare, who said he was not told why he was dismissed. The regulator has already seen three presidents in less than two years, a period marked by governance failures and repeated leadership changes.

The shake‑up follows an audit that covered 2019 to 2023, which exposed governance failures and raised questions over unpaid licensing fees and taxes. Reports suggested the shortfall could reach close to €1 billion, putting ONJN under heavy pressure and forcing government action.

Digitalization at the top of the agenda

The ONJN plans to roll out a new system for registering and managing documents, covering petitions, correspondence, and requests. 

The petitions portal will also be upgraded to track files more effectively, shorten processing times, and monitor deadlines. These changes are meant to automate routine tasks and give staff a clearer view of outstanding work.

Alongside digitalisation, ONJN is preparing a national programme to prevent and treat gambling addiction. Work has started on a mechanism that will allow people to access assessment, counselling, and treatment through institutions already providing these services. No launch date or funding details have been announced yet.

President Valentin‑Ioan Tomescu said his first weeks in office were spent reviewing staffing, projects, workflows, and daily operations. Announcing his priorities on 14 September, he stated: “It is extremely important that I have an accurate picture of the institution’s situation before making decisions, but the assessment must be followed by concrete measures.”

Tomescu added that ONJN has already set out priorities that can deliver quick results, alongside longer‑term measures that will require structural change. 

“We have already established a series of priorities that can deliver results within a short period, alongside measures requiring a structural approach and a longer implementation timetable,” he stated.

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Cleaning up the mess

The new strategic review is much needed following the repeated scandals that have shaken the Romanian gambling regulator in recent times. 

In July, Deputy General Director Ana‑Maria Badea was arrested after being accused of taking $2,500 to fast‑track game approvals. Her husband, two inspectors, and a company director were also placed under investigation for alleged bribes ranging from 1,000 to 5,000 lei. 

The National Anticorruption Directorate said the payments were made between December 2025 and May 2026, and Badea was ordered to remain in custody for 30 days while the case continues.

This was not the first time ONJN faced public criticism. A year earlier, the office came under fire for failing to audit licences and tax duties between 2019 and 2023. Reports suggested the oversight cost the state between €630 million and €900 million in lost revenue, adding to pressure on the regulator.

Against this backdrop, Valentin‑Ioan Tomescu stepped in as president in August, replacing Vlad‑Cristian Soare. His appointment was formalised by Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan through Decision No. 283/2026. 

Soare, who had led the office for just over a year, said he was not given reasons for his removal but noted that internal investigations had already begun during his tenure.

Tomescu, who previously headed ONJN’s South‑East Territorial Service in Constanța before joining the General Directorate of Supervision and Control, now faces the task of restoring credibility.

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