Gambling addiction has the highest suicide rate of all addictions. Who were the presidents of ONJN for the last 12 years, when the state did nothing in the anti-addiction program
Gambling, illustration image / Shutterstock
For 12 years, Romania has had an anti-addiction department and a program called “Responsible Gaming” in ONJN. Last year alone, the Office had 45 million euros at its disposal. Spent under 0.001%.
Gambling addiction has the highest suicide rate among all addictions, according to the American Psychiatric Association, GOLAZO.ro recently wrote in the “Octopus of Illegal Gambling” investigative series. The journalistic investigation showed that, in Romania, there are 31 legally licensed companies, but hundreds of sites where you can bet black.
Legal firms contribute to a fund created specifically against addiction, within the National Gambling Office (ONJN). This money is not spent. In 2024, ONJN spent €1,600 to educate social workers to recognize, prevent and manage gambling addiction. This is from the 45 million euros available for “Responsible Gaming”.
The underutilization of funds from “Responsible Gaming” is not an exception, but the established rule of the last 12 years, according to the budgets consulted by the publication and testimonies from inside the organization and the industry.
ONJN presidents for the past 12 years
- 2013 – 2017: Odeta Nestor – former economic director of the Romanian Lottery
- 2017 – 2018: Dan Iliovici – former executive director of the Rombet association
- 2018 – 2020: Marius-Sebastian Ionescu – former head of the IT and Monitoring Directorate of ONJN
- 2018 – 2021: Cătălin Constantin Voinea Mic – lawyer
- 2022 – 2023: Mihai Silviu Pocora – former vice-president of ONJN
- 2023 – 2025: Gheorghe Gabriel Gheorghe – former vice-president of ONJN
- 2025 – present: Vlad Cristian Soare – lawyer, former director general of the Romanian Lottery, former president of FEDBET (Federation of Gambling Organizers)
The “Octopus of Illegal Betting” investigation, on GOLAZO.
