National Gambling Office reiterates strong commitment to fight black market
The National Gambling Office has published yesterday, May 8, a press release on the institution’s website www.onjn.gov.ro in which it reiterates its firm commitment to fight the black market and reminds all holders of class 2 licenses (affiliates, software and platform providers, PSPs, etc.) that they must not provide services – directly or indirectly – to unlicensed gambling operators that allow access from the Romanian territory.
Therefore, the ONJN draws the attention of class 2 licensees operating on the Romanian territory that “it is prohibited to provide, directly or indirectly, gambling related activities to entities that do not hold a class 1 license issued by the ONJN and that allow access to gambling by game participants accessing the gaming platform from the Romanian territory and/or game participants who are Romanian citizens and do not have tax residency in another state”.
In other words, ONJN empowers the entire B2B sector in the fight against the black market through whatever technical methods are available under current legislation. The ONJN reminds Class 2 licensees that “you have the obligation to implement any available technical measures to prevent and combat access of gambling participants in violation of the legal provisions”.
The regulator points out that “failure to comply with the above-mentioned prohibition constitutes a contravention and is punishable by a fine of 150,000 lei to 200,000 lei and confiscation of the sums derived from the contravening activity”, and even the revocation of the license.
The ONJN concludes the press release by stating that it will ask all B2B licensees to explain what measures have been implemented in order to apply the provisions of art. 2^1 of the Emergency Ordinance no. 82/2023 so far.
Oficiul Național pentru Jocuri de Noroc
Below is the full press release published yesterday by the ONJN.
PRESS RELEASE – To the attention of economic operators holding a class II license issued by the ONJN
Considering:
– The provisions of art. 5^2 and art. (7) of Emergency Ordinance No. 77/2009 on the organization and operation of gambling;
– The provisions of art. 3 and art. 6 of Emergency Ordinance No. 20/2013 on the establishment, organization and functioning of the National Gambling Office and amending and supplementing Government Emergency Ordinance No. 77/2009 on the organization and operation of gambling;
Please be informed that, with the entry into force of Law no. 107/2024 on the approval of Government Emergency Ordinance no. 82/2023 for the amendment and supplementation of Government Emergency Ordinance no. 77/2009 on the organization and operation of gambling, as well as for the amendment of Government Emergency Ordinance no. 20/2013 on the establishment, organization and functioning of the National Gambling Office and for the amendment and supplementation of Government Emergency Ordinance no. 77/2009, as subsequently amended and supplemented, it is forbidden to provide, directly or indirectly, activities related to gambling to entities that do not hold a class I license issued by the National Gambling Office and that allow access to gambling by game participants who access the gaming platform from the territory of Romania and/or game participants who are Romanian citizens who do not have tax residency in another state.
In view of the above, we draw your attention that, from the date of entry into force of Law no. 107/2024 on the approval of Government Emergency Ordinance no. 82/2023, with subsequent amendments and additions, and until the adoption of the order of the President of the N.J.N.O. provided for by art. 2^1 of Emergency Ordinance no. 82/2023, you are obliged to implement any available technical measures to prevent and combat access by gambling participants in violation of the legal provisions.
Please note that failure to comply with the above-mentioned prohibition constitutes a contravention and is punishable by a fine from 150,000 lei to 200,000 lei and confiscation of the sums deriving from the contravening activity. In all cases in which this contravention is found to have been committed, the Supervisory Committee is obliged to order the revocation of the class II license held by the economic operator that carries out gambling related activities in relation to entities that do not hold a class I license issued by the ONJN.
We mention that the economic operators holding a class II license have been sent addresses requesting the communication to the ONJN of all the information regarding the technical measures implemented in order to apply the provisions of art. 2^1 of the Emergency Ordinance no. 82/2023.
Media contact:
Email – office@onjn.gov.ro
