With Tiberiu-Alin Ion Teodor about his objectives at the leadership of the National Office for Gambling
“We must continue consultations with professional associations in the field to clarify all provisions.”
➤ You have been appointed president of the National Gambling Office in the midst of the epidemiological crisis caused by the new coronavirus. What are your goals at the time of appointment?
I accepted the appointment in this position with the conviction that I can contribute to the consolidation of the gambling industry and, implicitly, to the increase of the revenues that this industry generates to the State Budget, through an efficient management of the National Gambling Office.
In the short and medium term, we aim to increase the efficiency of the actions taken by the authority by creating transparent working procedures, which ensure the application of impartial treatment, identical for each type of situation we face, whether it is requests authorisation, control actions or monitoring activities of gambling activities. I want to succeed in standardizing these actions and simplifying the task of the employees of the NationalGambling Office, but also to ensure for operators coherence and consistency in solving their requests or in the control actions undertaken by the authority.
I will ensure that the interaction between the authority and the economic operators is based on professionalism, integrity and impartiality, but also that the activity of the economic operators is carried out within the limits imposed by law and in strict compliance with legal obligations.
From the beginning of my appointment in this position, I was involved in completing the legislative framework in the field, namely the draft ordinance that was published in decision making transparency, completing the order by clarifying the Minimum Technical Verification Conditions used by the Romanian Metrology Bureau Legal and compliance assessment bodies and the completion of the order of sectoral regulations in the field of preventing and combating money laundering and terrorist financing. Of course, by virtue of the position I hold, I will be involved in all that it entails so as to optimise and modernize the legal framework in the field. I am of the opinion that we must continue the consultations with the professional associations in the field in order to clarify all the provisions, so as to avoid the creation of interpretable situations.
Of course, in the current epidemiological context, we have been put in the position of reviewing our management priorities and objectives. We all respect the measures imposed during the alert state to limit the number of infections with these viruses, being limited to certain activities, but as soon as the health situation allows, we are convinced that our goals will materialise and we will return to normal.
Unfortunately, the temporary or total suspension of the activity of traditional gambling deprived the authorised and licensed economic operators of income and, therefore, created a series of financial problems in the industry, starting from the difficulties in fulfilling the fiscal and contractual obligations, until upon suspension or termination of employment contracts.
Following requests and impact assessments submitted by professional associations, the National Gambling Office, through its management team, has been actively involved in identifying and proposing effective solutions and support measures for gambling companies on the duration of the crisis period.
Thus, following the discussions with the representatives of the Romanian Government on the financial problems faced by the traditional gambling sector, measures were adopted as a matter of urgency to help companies to cross this period, which is a first objective achieved for the current leadership of ONJN. Through these results we have been confirmed that our efforts are focused in the right direction.
With Tiberiu-Alin Ion Teodor about his objectives at the leadership of the National Office for Gambling
➤ Were support measures discussed with professional associations?
A clear picture of the impact of the measures to suspend the activity of traditional gambling organizers could only be made available to us through good communication with professional associations in the affected fields. To the same extent, professional associations have supported us in identifying the potential economic and fiscal solutions that are needed to save companies during this period. We are open to dialogue and are willing to find effective measures.
Those proposals that proved to be fair at the level of the National Gambling Office were sent to the Ministry of Finance, for discussion and, subsequently, included in the packages of measures prepared by the Government to support economic agents.
➤ How do you think the traditional gambling organizers will get over this period?
It is a very difficult period that we all have to go through, individually and collectively. The whole society is working hard and we must understand the need to comply with the measures imposed during this period to limit the number of diseases, protecting both us and those around us. All areas of activity have been tested by this pandemic of COVID-19, especially those whose activity has been suspended for a long time, but the best solutions are sought to reduce the possible negative effects, of course continuing the collective effort health protection of the population.
I am convinced that the gambling industry is a mature industry, with special creative abilities and a high degree of resilience, which are indisputable assets to successfully cross this period.
With Tiberiu-Alin Ion Teodor about his objectives at the leadership of the National Office for Gambling
➤ Furthermore, during the alert state, will the activity of the National Office for Gambling take place in the normal parameters?
Although we have taken measures to protect all persons involved in the field of gambling, namely employees of the National Office of Gambling, operators and players, we make efforts to continue to carry out the activity and not to hinder activities in areas that are not affected directly by restrictive measures.
In all those cases where the activity can be carried out from home, we encouraged employees not to come to the headquarters of the National Office for Gambling and to perform their tasks remotely.
Although it does not take place in the usual parameters, and some of the meetings of the Supervisory Committee can be rescheduled, the activity of the National Office for Gambling continues to be carried out, without affecting its efficiency. Given the changes that may occur, I recommend that gambling organisers access the institutional page to obtain up-to-date information on the meetings of the Supervisory Committee and the work of the Authority.
➤ What are the ONJN’s expectations during the state of alert from gambling operators that are not affected by the measures to suspend the activity?
We have not neglected any aspect of this field and we carefully follow the activity of online gambling organisers, this being allowed without restrictions during the alert state. We want to make sure that all economic operators in the field, regardless of how they operate, strictly comply with the legislative framework.
We also call on all organizers to promote and carry out these activities in accordance with the principles of social responsibility and protection of vulnerable players, especially during this period, when, as a result of social isolation measures, the risk of gambling addiction can increase.
With Tiberiu-Alin Ion Teodor about his objectives at the leadership of the National Office for Gambling
➤ Are other legislative changes expected in the next period?
In addition to the listed proposals, we should also mention the project on the distance from educational institutions, a project to which we want to make some changes to improve it.
To the extent that the process of adopting new regulations in the field of gambling will be initiated, we will start the procedure of analyzing them together with the professional associations, according to the law.
➤ Please send a thought to the readers of Casino Life & Business Magazine.
Despite the difficulties we have to face, you can be sure that everything will be fine! We must be tolerant, supportive and responsible in order to meet soon and resume economic activities.
The current management of the National Gambling Office is determined to maintain dialogue with professional associations and support the work of honest and responsible gambling organisers, showing 0 tolerance for potential operators who would choose to operate other than in strict compliance with the law.
With Tiberiu-Alin Ion Teodor about his objectives at the leadership of the National Office for Gambling
“We must continue consultations with professional associations in the field to clarify all provisions.”
