Romania’s gambling regulator ONJN signs a deal with ICI Bucharest to digitalize the national self-exclusion system, introducing biometric verification and stricter compliance rules for operators.
Romania’s National Gambling Office (ONJN) has taken a crucial step toward responsible gambling reform by signing a cooperation protocol with the National Institute for Research and Development in Informatics (ICI Bucharest). The agreement, revealed on February 9, 2026, sets the stage for a national digital self-exclusion platform that will allow players to voluntarily restrict their gambling activity with ease and security.
According to ONJN President Vlad-Cristian Soare, the modernization comes as part of a three-phase initiative aimed at turning responsible gambling from an idea into a functional, tech-driven system.
A Project in Three Stages
Soare explained that the reform unfolds through:
- Implementation under the current legal framework (already completed)
- Legislative amendments to fix system inconsistencies
- Development of a state-of-the-art IT solution (currently in progress)
The Goal: Unified Protection for Players
A Nationwide Self-Exclusion System
The upcoming platform will unify self-exclusion procedures across both online and land-based operators, ensuring consistent enforcement. Through biometric identification technology, players can easily register their exclusion status remotely without manual paperwork.
How It Works
Once active, the system will:
- Offer fixed or indefinite self-exclusion periods
- Enforce a mandatory cool-off period to prevent early reactivation
- Allow wrongly included players to claim back deposits (minus withdrawals)
- Require operators to verify player identity in real-time
New Obligations for Operators
Compliance Measures and Penalties
Under the reformed framework, all licensed Romanian gambling operators must:
- Install customer ID verification systems and surveillance cameras in retail venues
- Clearly display self-exclusion information on sites and premises
- Integrate QR codes linking to ONJN’s new self-exclusion portal
Failure to comply will result in severe fines between 50,000 and 100,000 lei ($11,600 – $23,200). Repeat offenders could face license suspension.
Police officers will also assist ONJN inspectors in enforcing compliance, broadening the scope of regulatory oversight.
Digitalization and Player Safety
Dr. Adrian Victor Vevera, ICI Bucharest’s Director General, emphasized the project’s role in strengthening digital trust in Romania’s gambling sector:
“Digitalizing this process is an essential step for protecting vulnerable people and increasing responsibility in gambling.”
The collaboration positions Romania as a European innovator in responsible gambling technology, echoing similar trends across the continent.
Summary
Romania’s partnership between ONJN and ICI Bucharest signals a decisive move toward a modern, secure, and unified gambling self-exclusion system. By leveraging biometric technology and digital verification, the country aims to reinforce responsible gambling principles, provide better protection for vulnerable players, and align with broader European standards for gambling transparency.
