Romania's National Gambling Office (ONJN) has revealed a sophisticated tax evasion scheme among certain gambling operators, uncovered following a month-long investigation into suspicious financial patterns.
How the Scheme Worked
The tax fraud scheme identified by ONJN was based on a simple but effective method: certain gambling companies declared fictitious player winnings to artificially inflate expenses and thereby reduce taxable profits.
The documented cases are remarkable: one player reportedly won more than 30 times in a single day, and another recorded 84 separate winning events in a short period. These transactions resulted in total payments of 10 million lei.
The Authorities' Response
In response to the findings, ONJN requested full access to the mirror servers of online gambling operators. This technical access allows the regulator to directly download all 12 mandatory fiscal reports, verifying each transaction in real time.
Political and Legislative Consequences
The scandal has intensified political pressure on the sector. The Pro-Europe Coalition has proposed transferring casino oversight to the national fiscal agency (ANAF), a measure that would add an additional layer of financial control.