Romania Investigates Affiliate over Links to Offshore Gambling Sites
BUCHAREST, Romania – Romania’s gambling regulator has launched a criminal investigation into a licensed affiliate accused of directing players to illegal offshore casinos.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:The case raises pressure on affiliates and operators as authorities move to tighten control over unlicensed gambling access.
The National Office for Gambling, known as ONJN, said it referred the case to the Directorate for the Investigation of Organized Crime and Terrorism and asked for law enforcement support in dismantling what it described as an illegal network. According to the regulator, the affiliate used a covert technical setup that read user IP addresses and redirected Romanian visitors to offshore gambling sites not licensed in the country.
The ONJN said this was not a technical error or a simple routing issue. It said the destination sites were localized for Romanian users, allowing them to register accounts, deposit funds, and gamble on platforms operating outside domestic rules. Regulators described that system as a deliberate mechanism designed to bypass Romanian law and generate revenue by steering players away from the regulated market.
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Offshore Links and Broader Reform Pressure
Investigators said the affiliate promoted sites, including NV Casino, which has drawn attention from industry watchers because of similarities to offshore entities already penalized in other European markets. That gives the case wider relevance, since regulators across Europe are paying closer attention to how affiliates, localized content, and cross-border links are used to reach players in restricted markets.
ONJN President Vlad Cristian Soare said the regulator sees these methods as a direct threat to the public interest because they expose Romanian consumers to platforms without local oversight or player protections. He said the agency will continue working with law enforcement to identify and pursue those responsible.
The investigation lands in the middle of a broader push to tighten Romania’s gambling framework. Policymakers have been advancing measures to raise the legal gambling age from 18 to 21, restrict advertising, and improve self-exclusion systems, while regulators try to rebuild confidence after earlier criticism over enforcement gaps and missing tax revenue.
What happens next will depend on the criminal investigation and whether authorities identify a wider network beyond the affiliate already named. For operators and marketers, the message is clear enough: Romanian regulators are now looking more closely at how traffic is sourced, where players are sent, and whether licensed businesses are helping unlicensed gambling sites reach the local market.
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