Valentin-Ioan Tomescu appointed as president of the Romanian gaming regulator ONJN

Valentin-Ioan Tomescu has been appointed as the new president of the National Office for Gambling of Romania (ONJN) following the dismissal of Vlad-Cristian Soare, a decision officially published just over a year after Soare took office. The appointment was announced by Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan through Decision No. 283/2026. Soare's tenure at the helm of the regulator was characterized by the implementation of transparency measures and internal controls, although his departure was not accompanied by public explanations.

Appointment of Valentin-Ioan Tomescu and Context

The Prime Minister of Romania, Ilie Bolojan, formalized the appointment of Valentin-Ioan Tomescu as the new president of the ONJN, the national authority in charge of regulating the gambling sector. Tomescu has extensive experience within the institution: he led the Southeast Territorial Service in Constanta before moving to Bucharest, where he was responsible in the General Directorate of Supervision and Control. This directorate manages operator inspections, enforcement of sanctions, and oversight of compliance with licenses and authorizations.

The decision comes at a time marked by internal reforms and scrutiny towards the regulator, with several ongoing investigations involving senior officials of the ONJN. Tomescu's predecessor, Vlad-Cristian Soare, took leadership in May 2025 after revealing the evasion of 1 billion euros in taxes by operators due to an unfavorable audit.

Results and Measures During Soare's Presidency at ONJN

During Soare’s management, the ONJN implemented several measures aimed at strengthening transparency and accountability. The Court of Accounts recognized some of these initiatives. Among the most relevant actions were:

• The modernization of the national self-exclusion system through a fully digital platform encompassing all online operators
• The acquisition of approximately 5 million euros in grants to fund responsible gaming social projects under the ‘Aware and Free’ program
• Romania’s adherence to a community ban on prediction markets such as Polymarket and Kalshi

In terms of market control, around 1,300 illegal sites were blocked, and as a result of the sector consolidation, the number of authorized operators decreased from 200 to fewer than 100, thus reinforcing an environment with greater regulatory demands for both operators and end users.

Investigation, Corruption, and Leadership Changes at ONJN

Soare’s departure was not accompanied by official explanations. In a LinkedIn post, Soare stated that he did not receive specific reasons for his dismissal, claiming that "it was the greatest honor to represent the Romanian state as a dignitary" and defending his management aimed at "market balance and those affected by gambling." He emphasized that during his tenure "the institution began to cleanse itself from within" and that internal investigations and notifications to criminal investigation bodies were promoted whenever there were signs of irregularities. According to Soare, the anti-corruption investigation opened this year by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office against the ONJN responds to "serious infringements" that did not align with the direction he was pushing.

Investigations are affecting senior executives of the regulator. Ana-Maria Badea, former Deputy General Director, is under investigation for alleged corruption offenses and served during the presidency of Gheorghe-Gabriel Gheorghe, who resigned after the tax evasion of operators was revealed. In parallel, Odeta Kristanela Nestor, president of the ONJN between 2013 and 2017, was arrested in June for alleged corrupt practices.

Outlook for Gambling Regulation in Romania

The leadership change at the ONJN coincides with a period of heightened scrutiny and restructuring in the Romanian gambling sector. The combination of audits, stricter internal controls, and criminal investigations into former managers highlights the complexity of the challenge for Tomescu. Among his key responsibilities are the oversight of licenses and authorizations, leading control operations, and ensuring that the agency meets the new transparency requirements established by the Romanian Executive.

Romania thus joins the European trend of professionalizing its regulatory bodies and implementing enhanced responsible gaming practices, key elements for market trust and institutional strengthening of the sector. This reform process will have implications for both local operators and those interested in entering or consolidating their presence in the Romanian market and will be closely monitored by the industry and international regulators.

“The institution began to cleanse itself from within. We changed the directions, initiated internal investigations and notified criminal investigation bodies whenever there were signs. […] The results show what we defended: the Romanian state, market balance, and the individuals suffering from gambling,” Soare stated in his farewell.