The gambling experts have a word to say
Not long ago, the Romanian authorities have agreed to set up the National Office for Gambling. Odeta Nestor, a person of a wide experience, was appointed to manage this institution that will closely monitor the gambling activities. Our publication – ’Casino Life & Business Magazine’ – had the privilege of an interview with gambling specialists in Romania who expressed their views about this newly established legislative institution.
1. What is your take on the National Office for Gambling?
Dragoș Buriu – Newton Slots: The entire gambling sector in Romania is giving a nod to this Office. We all had to deal with numerous inspections from agents who had nothing to do with this industry and who were implementing the laws as they wished. Too many points of view of the regional organisms were hindering the operators to have a set of rules to be applied accordingly.
Marius Stoi – DGL Pro: I truly believe that this is initiative that can turn into a good foundation for the gambling industry in Romania, if carried out in a logical, non-biased and ‚no red tape’ manner.
Gabriela Manu – Baum Games:
We are thrilled and hope for the best. My understanding is that many people will be employed there and they will thus be able to notice everything what’s going on in here.
Dan Iliovici – Romslot: The main values that ROMSLOT advocates for are transparency, applicablity and fairness. We are glad about the attention that the Romanian officials are paying to the industry we are representing by setting up a special office to supervise the gambling activity. Hence, we hope that its establishment will contribute to embracing the same values as above. We wish to become a trustworthy partner of ONJN, to have a better coordination of the control function of the operators in this industry, a duty that falls within the ONJN jurisdiction once set up.
2. As far as you are concerned, what would be the novelty that this Office will add to the gambling industry from a legal perspective?
Dragoș Buriu – Newton Slots:
As I was saying earlier, this Office will play the role to rectify the deficiencies displayed by various regional agencies. We will have now the opportunity to officially find out what are the boundaries to operate within, with no room left for second guessing.
Marius Stoi – DGL Pro: I hope to be a good starting point to get rid of all the legal ambiguities and nonsense.
Gabriela Manu – Baum Games: Should an open relation between the Office and operators is built, there are great chances to take huge steps towards a clear-cut legislation, applicable for a healthy business environment.
Dan Iliovici – Romslot: The activity of the National Office for Gambling will definitely have a beneficial impact upon our industry. I really hope to see this visible in regulating the legal framework that should be fair and applicable for both the companies on the market and also for the players. Even though the ONJN main function is to control, we want this institution provide a higher transparency in developing the legislative initiatives by the main regulator of the gambling industry in Romania, Department of Public Finances.
3. What is your opinion about the fact of having Odeta Nestor appointed as the manager of this institution? Even though she is a young woman, but with a great training in the field of tourism and prestigious casinos?
Dragoș Buriu – Newton Slots: To have a woman leading this institution I cannot find disturbing. As you said yourself, experience and intelligence should be those factors to look for in people assigned to supervise certain areas.
Marius Stoi – DGL Pro: Indeed, she is a young woman, really experienced in the gambling sector. I have had the pleasure to meet her during joint activities and I can say she is a real professional.
Gabriela Manu – Baum Games: A good experience is a ‚sine qua non’ requirement in the CV of anyone holding this position. Similarly, age can represent an ace up the sleeve in a dynamic, expanding and interactive industry like ours, where vision clashes with old customs. When it comes to business, action is more important than people. In other words, we can only eagerly anticipate the positive results of Mrs. Odeta Nistor involvement and of the Office into this industry.
Dan Iliovici – Romslot:
Mrs. Odeta Nestor has the advantage of her expertise in more branches in gambling. Thus, she perfectly understands the specifics of each entity, without losing the overall view in an entertainment industry and upon the gambling market. Plus, her professional background provides the opportunity to make a better sense of the issues that the operators are dealing with, as well as the need for a dialogue between the authorities and gambling officials.
4. What are the weaknesses in the gambling industry that the new institution could turn into strenghts?
Dragoș Buriu – Neton Slots: The ambiguous legal framework has always been a problem for me. But this applies in all areas in Romania. Shortly, we hope that the rules will be better defined for fighting against the games exploited without a licence. Likewise, I would like to believe that we can count on the personal integrity of the people in high positions in this field.
Marius Stoi – DGL Pro:
In the gambling industry, there is no unified concept of all the involved institutions related to legislation and control issue. I expect that the newly founded institution come up with this singular theory.
Gabriela Manu – Baum Games: First of all, there are certain articles in the law that are a nuissance to every organizer. If clarified, everyone will be able to work much better.
Dan Iliovici – Romslot: This is a good moment to remind you about the applicability and construing issues of the legislation in use, which the slot machines-type gambling is dealing with, still not solved. The list would include the 25% tax and the entrance ticket, plus the clear definition of the concepts of income and winnings. We anticipate to have the problem of the illegally installed gambling equipment solved and also the non-authorized online games.
5. How does the relation with the National Office for Gambling look like? Which direction should this relation really develop?
Dragoș Buriu – Newtons Slots: It is an unfortunate thing we got off on the wrong foot in this transition. A compromise solution has been chosen for the files registered in April. For the future, we hope to enter into a direct relation with this Office, which to have the role to guide the good-willed people. My opinion is that this Office is a good sign and we will surely see positive results in the near future.
Marius Stoi – DGL Pro: The direction you are asking is a total transparency for me, two ways – from the Office to the organizers and back.
Gabriela Manu – Baum Games: I think that this relation should be built on better communication. Openness to start a dialogue with the associations representing various categories of operators is wonderful. Chances that the Romanian market become well regulated and cleaner are higher – the state can collect its taxes and the operators work in a better environment.
Dan Iliovici – Romslot: Mrs. Odeta Nestor has already proven her receptivity for developing a cooperation relation with the industry representatives, which is also our wish. We hope that we will initiate a dialogue, absolutely necessary, between the industry and officials. For the next interval, we expect to devise a working group to include the Office experts and the gambling representatives. In addition, we bet on having the ONJN involved in adopting certain joint actions that will trigger the emergence of a fair and applicable legal framework.
