Key Highlights
- ONJN, Romania’s national gaming authority, is rolling out €5 million in grants to combat gambling addiction through its ‘Conscious and Free’ initiative
- Approximately €3.6 million will fund prevention campaigns, educational programs, counseling services, treatment options, and responsible gaming initiatives
- An additional €1.2 million is designated for constructing or upgrading specialized treatment centers for individuals struggling with gambling disorders
- Application deadline is set for May 11, with approved programs scheduled to begin August 3 and continue until December 2026
- This represents ONJN’s inaugural public financing effort dedicated to addressing problem gambling concerns
Romania’s gambling oversight authority, ONJN, has unveiled a groundbreaking €5 million grant initiative designed to tackle compulsive gambling behaviors across the nation.
The financial support is part of the ‘Conscious and Free’ national initiative, which received approval from ONJN in December 2025. Details of the program were officially released through Romania’s Official Gazette.
Non-profit entities will receive these grants as non-reimbursable funds. ONJN is allocating the resources from its operational budget for 2026.
The regulatory body has divided the available funds into three distinct categories. The primary allocation of €3.6 million will support diverse initiatives encompassing awareness campaigns, educational outreach, counseling services, therapeutic programs, scientific research, digital transformation projects, youth protection measures, and responsible gaming advocacy.
A secondary fund of €1.2 million has been reserved exclusively for developing or enhancing dedicated treatment facilities for those battling gambling addiction. This particular funding stream is available only to governmental entities.
Submission Schedule and Evaluation Framework
The final €200,000 portion will support research initiatives and comprehensive impact assessments intended to inform future policy development and intervention methodologies.
Interested organizations must complete their submissions by May 11. ONJN will release preliminary eligibility determinations on May 15, allowing applicants a three-day period from May 18 through May 20 to file appeals.
Final eligibility determinations and appeal decisions will be announced between May 21 and May 26. A designated Evaluation Commission will subsequently assess all proposals, with findings scheduled for publication on July 8.
Contestants have until July 13 to dispute preliminary evaluations. Final determinations are scheduled for July 28, followed by contract execution between July 29 and July 31.
ONJN has designated August 3 as the commencement date for funded programs. All approved projects must conclude by December 2026, providing approximately four months for implementation.
Regulatory Chief Highlights Milestone Achievement
Vlad-Cristian Soare, President of ONJN, described the initiative as unprecedented for the regulatory organization. He noted that this marks the inaugural instance of ONJN distributing financial support for such programming.
Soare recognized the substantial coordination required to launch the grant program. He credited successful partnerships among ONJN, the Ministry of Finance, and UEFISCDI as instrumental in bringing the initiative to fruition.
As Soare explained, the implementation involved legislative amendments, restructuring of ONJN’s responsible gaming division, and developing comprehensive legal frameworks to support grant distribution. Two presidential decrees were enacted to establish procedural guidelines and applicant requirements.
He stressed that the regulatory infrastructure is now established to enable ongoing funding allocation in subsequent years.
Romania’s gambling sector has experienced significant expansion recently, making problem gambling an increasingly pressing social issue. The ‘Conscious and Free’ initiative represents the nation’s most substantial public funding commitment addressing this challenge to date.
Qualified non-profit organizations have until May 11, 2026, to submit their applications.
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