Romania Introduces €5 Million Gambling Harm Prevention Funding Initiative

(AsiaGameHub) –   The National Office for Gambling (ONJN) has launched its inaugural call for funding through the “Aware and Free” initiative, providing €5 million for programs aimed at preventing gambling-related harm.

The submission period began on 20 April and concludes on 11 May, after which the regulatory body will review eligibility and release preliminary results by 26 May. Following an independent evaluation, final outcomes are expected on 8 July. After the resolution of any appeals, confirmed participants should be announced by 28 July, with initiatives starting in early August and running until the end of 2026.

ONJN president Vlad-Cristian Soare, stated:

We gave our word that these initiatives would be realized. Despite previous challenges, these projects will proceed and, most importantly, provide support to vulnerable people. We are securing the first-ever funding in the history of the ONJN for this type of program, while also establishing the regulatory groundwork for future grants.

The €5 million allocation is divided into three categories. The largest portion, €3.6 million, will fund prevention, education, treatment, research, digitalization, and responsible gambling efforts. Another €1.2 million is dedicated to infrastructure, such as building or improving treatment centers, and is available exclusively to public authorities. The remaining €200,000 will support research and impact assessments to inform policy development.

This move comes during a difficult start to 2026 for the iGaming market in Romania. The industry experienced a notable contraction, with the Blask Index falling 24.4% over January and February, marking one of the weakest year-to-date performances in a decade.