Romania’s gambling regulator has sharply increased enforcement against illegal gambling over the past year, with more site bans, more inspections and more criminal complaints. The National Office for Gambling (ONJN) issued more than 60 removal orders and blacklisted over 300 illegal gambling websites during the period covered by its latest activity report.
The regulator also carried out about 11,000 inspections between April 2025 and April 2026. Those checks led to 70 criminal complaints, 60 licence revocations and 260 devices being disabled or confiscated.
Site bans have become a bigger part of enforcement
Online enforcement now forms a larger part of Romania’s gambling controls. The ONJN has been using removal orders and website blocking more aggressively as it tries to limit access to unlicensed operators targeting Romanian players.
Romania has also taken action against prediction-style platforms. In early April, a Romanian court rejected Polymarket’s request to suspend the ONJN’s blacklist decision, leaving the platform blocked in the country while the case continues.
Complaints also point to wider financial concerns
The surge in criminal complaints was not limited to illegal websites alone. Enforcement actions also targeted suspected gross gaming revenue manipulation and unpaid taxes. This shows that the regulator is focusing on financial compliance as well as market access. The crackdown has a wider scope. It covers not only removing illegal operators from view, but also investigating how gambling companies report revenue and meet tax obligations.
Broader reforms are adding to the pressure
The tougher enforcement drive comes during a wider period of gambling reform in Romania. New rules have already given local authorities more power over betting shops and slot halls, while lawmakers have also moved on issues such as advertising and player protection.
Romania has launched a €5 million programme to fund projects aimed at preventing and treating gambling-related harm. The initiative supports counselling, awareness campaigns and responsible gambling measures, with implementation scheduled from August to December 2026. In addition, the ONJN introduced a national self-exclusion system and continues to expand player protection tools as part of ongoing reforms to create a safer gambling environment.
