Romanian Regulator Imposes Cross-Platform Self-Exclusion Policy

Romanian Regulator Imposes Cross-Platform Self-Exclusion Policy

Romania's gambling industry faces another regulatory adjustment following the National Gambling Office's (ONJN) latest directive addressing how operators handle self-exclusion. The regulator clarified that self-exclusion must now function on a unified account principle, obligating operators to enforce bans across all platforms once a player submits a request.

The move eliminates an existing loophole that allowed individuals to avoid exclusion simply by switching to a different platform or service provider, despite previously initiating a self-exclusion. Under the revised interpretation, operators can no longer limit the exclusion to a single website or product. Instead, they must extend the exclusion across all connected platforms their license covers.

The ONJN's decision follows years of uncertainty over how operators should interpret Romania's self-exclusion rules. While the country introduced a self-exclusion framework in 2020, ambiguity surrounded whether exclusions applied solely within a licensee's operations or industry-wide. The underlying legislation—Government Decision no. 111/2016, specifically Article 130—introduced the principle of a unified approach, yet operators interpreted this in varying ways.

With this update, the regulator aims to align Romania's approach with practices established in several European markets. In these markets, centralized exclusion systems enable players to submit a single request covering multiple operators. Such systems reduce the risk of problem gamblers continuing their activity by creating new accounts elsewhere.

The ONJN's clarification has a twofold impact on operators. First, the directive imposes an obligation to review internal policies and terms of service to ensure compliance. Operators must update responsible gambling protocols and technical systems to track exclusion requests and prevent access across all relevant platforms. Failure to comply could result in fines or license revocation, according to the ONJN.

Second, the change opens a potential legal risk for operators that previously treated exclusions as platform-specific. Players who self-excluded on one platform but later incurred losses on another under the same license may seek recourse. Past failures to enforce cross-platform exclusions could prompt compensation claims, especially if players argue they were not adequately protected under responsible gambling obligations.

Some market participants have reportedly already faced legal challenges in this area, leading to refunds. The ONJN's intervention may now set a standard that limits such risks going forward but raises questions about liability for prior incidents.

The directive's timing is significant, arriving as the ONJN faces increasing scrutiny over its performance as a regulatory authority. A recent audit by Romania's Court of Accounts (CCR) uncovered multiple agency oversight failures. According to the audit, the ONJN did not verify financial data submitted by licensees, failed to monitor tax collection effectively, and overlooked discrepancies in licensing fee payments.

One of the more striking audit findings was the absence of monitoring return-to-player rates. Due to oversights, the CCR suggested that the state may have lost tax revenues ranging from 3.3 billion to 4.3 billion Romanian lei (approximately EUR 630 million to EUR 900 million).

These revelations triggered political pressure on the ONJN's leadership, particularly from members of Parliament seeking accountability. The head of the ONJN, Gheorghe-Gabriel Gheorghe, was called to explain the agency's performance but declined to attend a parliamentary hearing. He questioned the authority of the Information Technology Committee, led by Senator Ciprian Rus, to summon the regulator. Gheorghe argued that the complexity of the CCR audit findings required a more nuanced discussion and asked for a rescheduled session to present corrective measures.

From an industry perspective, the latest regulatory move adds to operational complexity. Online casino and betting operators must now dedicate additional resources to compliance, including technical upgrades to ensure that exclusion requests trigger an automatic and comprehensive block on gambling access.

This change also highlights a broader shift toward increasing regulatory oversight in Romania's gambling market. Authorities appear intent on reducing gaps in responsible gambling protections while simultaneously responding to criticism over previous shortcomings. Ensuring that self-exclusion is enforced uniformly across platforms may improve player protection mechanisms but could also test operators' technical capacity and legal exposure.

Operators must adjust their compliance strategies to meet the clarified requirements in the short term. In the longer term, the shift could encourage further debate over whether Romania should develop a centralized exclusion register covering all licensed operators, similar to models seen in other European jurisdictions.

While the ONJN's directive addresses one specific issue, it reflects a broader effort to rebuild trust in the regulator's role and improve standards within the sector. Whether the agency's response to audit findings and parliamentary pressure will produce lasting changes remains to be seen. However, the self-exclusion policy shift signals that regulatory oversight may tighten in the coming period, with consequences for how operators manage player protection obligations.