Vlad-Cristian Soare has been abruptly dismissed from his role as President of ONJN, the National Gambling Office of Romania. Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan announced the appointment of Valentin-Ioan Tomescu as his successor. In a public statement on LinkedIn, Soare revealed that no official explanation or rationale was provided for his sudden removal, expressing disappointment over the decision.
Soare’s departure comes just over a year after he took charge of the regulatory agency. He originally succeeded the previous leadership following a high-profile investigation by the Romanian Court of Auditors, which uncovered an estimated €1 billion in uncollected gambling tax revenues in 2025. His dismissal also coincided with recent anti-corruption investigations into former ONJN executive officials, including former Deputy Director General Ana-Maria Badea and former President Odeta Nestor.
During his tenure, Soare implemented rigorous regulatory policies designed to increase accountability and protect the integrity of the domestic market. Under his administration, Romania banned access to major prediction markets such as Polymarket and Kalshi, while adding more than 1,300 unlicensed gambling domains to the national blacklist. Regulatory tightening and compliance audits also led to substantial market consolidation, reducing the number of licensed gambling companies from 200 to fewer than 100. Additionally, his team advanced the development of a unified national digital self-exclusion scheme and secured €5 million in government grant funding for problem gambling treatment initiatives.
For licensed operators and B2B providers in Romania, the appointment of Valentin-Ioan Tomescu signals ongoing regulatory scrutiny and adherence to strict anti-corruption standards. The market continues to focus on responsible gambling enforcement and transparent oversight.
Source: SBC News