The Romanian gambling authority, the National Office for Games of Chance (ONJN), has initiated action against domestic slot operator Betting Frenzy SRL in a rapid and decisive step. Betting Frenzy’s gaming license has been terminated by the ONJN, citing major failures to satisfy payment and disclosure responsibilities.
The ONJN investigation discovered that Betting Frenzy SRL failed to disclose a significant sum of gambling taxes of RON3.20 million (£560,000/€650,000/$710,000). Not only did the operator fail to make the required disclosure, but he also failed to deposit the outstanding taxes to the relevant fiscal agency. The regulatory agency also stated that Betting Frenzy had failed to provide the necessary evidence to support its payment promises to the government.
Because of these serious oversights, the ONJN has taken the extraordinary action of cancelling Betting Frenzy’s license to operate slot machines in Romania. This regulatory action, however, does not exonerate the operator of its financial obligations. Betting Frenzy SRL is still required to pay the unpaid tax amount.
While the ONJN’s decision is a huge defeat for Betting Frenzy, there is still legal remedy available. If the operator wishes to file an objection to the ruling, it has 30 days to do so. The matter will then be reviewed further.
Simultaneously, the ONJN revealed an expansion of the country’s blacklist, targeting unlicensed gaming sites that have been operating within Romania. The newly added sites are as follows:
- Ice-casino34.com/ro
- Ps3838.com
- Carscor.com
- Romaniarandom.com
- Pozeledevinrealitate.com
Romania established its blacklist in 2015 as a proactive measure ahead of the regulation of the online gambling market the subsequent year. The ONJN regularly updates the list to safeguard consumers and uphold the integrity of the market. Notable instances include the March 2022 update, which saw the addition of 26 sites, and the August 2020 update, wherein 20 portals, including one affiliated with Bet365, were blacklisted.
With the ONJN decision in place, it is now up to Romania’s 1,184 Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to quickly ban access to any site on the blacklist. ISPs must put the restriction in place within 48 hours of receiving notified from the gaming regulator. This safeguard guarantees that Romanian users who attempt to access an illegal gambling portal will be greeted with a notification indicating limited access, as well as a brief explanation of the ONJN’s regulatory authority.
The ONJN’s recent measures highlight Romania’s commitment to maintaining a safe and well-regulated gaming environment, while also holding operators accountable for their fiscal duties and compliance with severe legislation.
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