SBC News

ONJN begins a new leadership tenure under Vlad-Cristian Soare, who will serve as the President of the National Gambling Office of Romania (ONJN).

Soare’s appointment as the successor to Gheorghe Gabriel Gheorghe as President of ONJN was announced to Romanian authorities in April.

Gheorghe chose to resign ahead of Romania hosting its re-scheduled Presidential Elections on 18 May, won by Bucharest mayor Nicușor Dan as an independent candidate.

The presidential elections took place against a backdrop of instability, marked by the annulment of the 2024 presidential vote and widespread concerns over foreign interference by Russia.

A lawyer and former lecturer at the University of Bucharest, Soare has no previous involvement in the management of ONJN.

The department is under significant scrutiny following its failure to audit taxes and authorisation fees, which have cost the Romanian government a near €1bn in lost income.

Taking office, Soare acknowledged the current political sensitivities in Romania, stating: “Today I went from office to office in the institution I run. Not to talk about voting, but to tell my colleagues a simple thing: for me, it doesn’t matter what they voted for. It matters that we are here, together, for the same goal.

Vlad-Cristian Soare
“I admit, I was happy with the result. It was a vote in line with my convictions. But this joy comes with responsibility, care and, perhaps most importantly, moderation. At the same time, I also feel the tension, the frustration, the rupture. And I know that a true victory does not mean being right alone, but building together.”
In addition to its auditing failures, ONJN has been accused of negligence in its enforcement and monitoring of licensed operators.

Filing its auditing report, the Court of Accounts informed Parliament that ONJN executives could be liable for criminal prosecution due to the agency’s regulatory failures.

Calls to disband ONJN are led by the Save Romania Union (USR), of which Nicușor Dan was formerly a member. Senator Ciprian Rus, leader of USR, summoned Gheorghe Gabriel Gheorghe to face a parliamentary inquiry. This was refused by the former ONJN president, who claimed he did not wish to participate in a “political sideshow”.

Gheorghe stated that ONJN’s discrepancies stemmed from outdated IT systems, which hindered effective monitoring and enforcement of gambling regulations.

The systems had not been updated to reflect the tax reforms introduced in 2019, including the 2% monthly tax on online gambling operators, calculated based on total participation fees collected each month.

USR maintains that ONJN must face repercussions for its regulatory failures, and has called for the Ministry of Finance and Tax Office to assume temporary governance of Romanian gambling.

Seeking to place ONJN under review, USR demands that Romanian authorities support its proposed stop-gap measure to impose a limit on gambling expenditure to 10% of a player’s monthly income – a move billed as a new “accountability safeguard for Romanian gamblers”.

Whether ONJN is maintained or not, Romania’s gambling sector requires more stable management, following a period marked by frequent leadership changes since 2018 and significant shifts in taxation, authorisation fees, and regulatory enforcement.

Soare concluded: “My political colour is decency. That’s what I told my colleagues. I think that, beyond the differences, we need to remember what unites us: honest work, professionalism, balance.”

GamCare has issued a public warning as part of Mental Health Awareness Week (12–18 May), drawing attention to the often-overlooked psychological toll gambling takes on those closest to the person gambling.

The charity, which provides support to people affected by gambling-related harm, is using the national awareness campaign to highlight a message that is frequently overshadowed: “Gambling doesn’t only affect the person who gambles, but also the people around them.”

Partners, family members, friends and even colleagues can all be impacted by someone else’s gambling behaviour.

According to GamCare, the emotional and mental toll can include anxiety, depression, insomnia, and a profound sense of stress. Financial strain, secrecy, and trust issues can also erode relationships and leave individuals feeling isolated or unable to speak out.

“It’s not uncommon for loved ones to experience a complex mix of emotions,” the organisation stated. “Shame, anger, guilt and helplessness are all typical, particularly when someone is trying to support a person who continues to gamble despite the harm it’s causing.”

To address this, GamCare offers a range of services for affected others. A weekly Family and Friends Chatroom, held every Tuesday from 10am to 11:30am, provides a confidential and supportive online space for individuals to share experiences, seek advice, and connect with others in similar situations. The organisation also runs a 24-hour helpline and live chat for those in need of immediate assistance.

GamCare encourages open, non-confrontational communication as a starting point. Rather than accusatory language, it suggests using statements such as “I feel worried about our finances” to express concerns in a constructive way. The charity also urges individuals to establish boundaries, particularly around money, to help protect their own wellbeing.

As the focus of Mental Health Awareness Week turns to how external factors can impact mental health, GamCare is making a clear case that gambling-related harm must be understood as a wider issue — not just one affecting individuals, but entire support networks.

Those affected by someone else’s gambling can contact GamCare’s National Helpline free and confidentially, 24 hours a day, on 0808 80 20 133 or via live chat at www.gamcare.org.uk.

The University of Staffordshire and GamCare have called for more UK prison reforms to address rising gambling harm rates among inmates.

Research commissioned by the university, co-funded by GamCare and His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Services (HMPPS), revealed that gambling harm is becoming increasingly more prevalent among those part of the UK prison system.

Not only that, but the impulsive behaviour can also be a problem for people under probation supervision, becoming a prominent risk factor for entering debt, homelessness or reverting back to crime, inevitably leading to a repeat incarceration of those under the probation bracket.

Within prison walls, the research highlighted that problem gambling can also lead to prisoners becoming a victim of violence themselves. This was especially pronounced in Wales’ male prisons, affecting 11% of respondents.

The majority of inmates across all UK prisons also revealed that they have never been asked whether they’re affected by gambling.

Associate Professor Sarah Page, Research Lead, said: “Gambling harm is a somewhat hidden crisis affecting people across our prisons and probation services. Our research highlights the urgent need for consistent, effective support services for those harmed by gambling — whether directly or indirectly.”

What is the solution
The university, together with GamCare, now recommends that a mandatory problem gambling recognition training be rolled out for staff across all HMMPS prisons, with lived experience contributions taking a central role in the approach.

In the UK, industry shareholders that can proactively participate in the coordination of such training are plentiful, with widely-recognised national networks – such as Deal Me Out, EPIC Global Solutions, or Gordon Moody – carrying a lot of experience in this area.

Additionally, there could be another reason as to why now might be a good time to consider such action – namely the Gambling Review White Paper’s RET statutory levy, which will unlock an additional £100m in funding for national problem gambling initiatives.

All in all, across the total 15 recommendations made, the bottom line is that the university is hoping for its research to serve as a stepping stone for what would be a more conscious approach towards gambling harm intervention within the Criminal Justice System.

“By sharing our findings, we hope to inform meaningful reforms within HMPPS and community services that reduce reoffending and improve lives,” Page concluded.