Romania’s Gambling Regulator Allocates €5 Million in Grants for Responsible Gambling Programs

(AsiaGameHub) –   The ONJN has allocated financial resources to support non-profit projects.

Romania.- The national gambling authority ONJN has announced the distribution of €5m in grants to combat problem gambling in Romania. This funding, sourced from the ONJN’s 2026 budget, is part of the “Conscious and Free” public interest initiative established in the government gazette in December 2025.

The non-reimbursable grants will support non-profit projects promoting responsible gaming. The funding is divided into three primary categories: €3.6m for prevention, education, minor protection, treatment, research, digitalization, and awareness; €1.2m for the creation or expansion of specialized treatment centers (restricted to public authorities); and €200,000 for impact assessments and studies to inform future strategies.

Grant applications must be turned in by May 11, with eligibility outcomes published on May 15. Appeals can be submitted between May 18 and 20, followed by the announcement of final compliance results from May 21 to 26. 

An independent evaluation report is scheduled for publication on July 8, with a window for challenging preliminary results open until July 13. Final results will be released on July 28, and contracts will be signed between July 29 and 31. Projects are set to start on August 3 and continue through December 2026.

Vlad-Cristian Soare, President of ONJN, underscored the importance of the program and the collaborative effort required for its launch. He mentioned that the ONJN worked in partnership with the Ministry of Finance and UEFISCDI, the Executive Agency for Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation Funding. The initiative involved legislative updates to restructure the ONJN’s responsible gaming division, including two presidential orders.

“I promised these projects would materialise,” Soare stated. “Despite past challenges, these initiatives will proceed and, most importantly, provide aid to vulnerable individuals.”

“We are providing the first funding in the history of ONJN for this type of initiative. Simultaneously, the necessary regulatory framework has been established to support funding in future years.”

The ONJN has also issued its annual activity report, which details its enforcement actions against illegal gambling in Romania over the last year following its receipt of new regulatory powers.