Romania operates one of the most structured gambling regulatory frameworks in the European Union. The country's gambling market is overseen by the Oficiul Național pentru Jocuri de Noroc (ONJN) — the National Gambling Office — which issues licences, monitors compliance, and enforces gambling legislation across both online and land-based sectors.
This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the Romanian gambling licensing system, including the legal framework, license types, key operators, and how to verify whether an operator holds a valid ONJN licence.
Legal Framework
Romania's gambling sector is governed primarily by Government Emergency Ordinance no. 77/2009 (GEO 77/2009) on the Organisation and Operation of Games of Chance. Detailed implementation rules are set out in Government Decision no. 111/2016, which approves the Methodological Norms for applying GEO 77/2009.
The legislation has been refined through multiple amendments to strengthen regulation and align with EU standards. Notable recent changes include:
- GEO 82/2023 — further amended GEO 77/2009 and the ONJN's founding law
- Law 141/2025 — substantially increased authorisation fees for gambling operators and introduced new reporting obligations
- ONJN President's Order no. 79/2025 — established a unified national self-exclusion procedure across all operators
All forms of gambling are legal in Romania provided the operator holds the proper licence and authorisation. The sole exception is lottery games, which are reserved to the state-owned national lottery company as a monopoly.
The Regulator: ONJN
The National Gambling Office (ONJN) is Romania's central regulatory authority. Established under GEO 77/2009, ONJN is responsible for:
- Issuing Class I and Class II licences and annual authorisations
- Monitoring operator compliance with Romanian gambling law
- Conducting inspections and investigating complaints
- Imposing sanctions (fines, suspension, or revocation of licences)
- Maintaining the national blacklist of unauthorised gambling websites
- Operating the centralised self-exclusion registry
ONJN's Supervisory Committee evaluates licence applications on a regular basis. The regulator also issues secondary regulations through orders of its President, covering technical standards, reporting requirements, and responsible gambling measures.
Official website: https://onjn.gov.ro
License Types
Romania uses a two-tier licensing system that separates operators from suppliers:
Class I Licence (B2C Operator Licence)
A Class I licence is required for any business-to-consumer gambling operator offering games of chance to players. This includes:
- Online casino and sports betting operators
- Land-based casinos and slot machine halls
- Betting shops and poker clubs
- Bingo halls
The Class I licence is valid for 10 years and is renewable. In addition to the licence, operators must obtain annual authorisations for each gambling activity or platform they operate.
Class II Licence (B2B Supplier Licence)
A Class II licence applies to business-to-business service providers that supply the gambling industry. Categories include:
- Gambling software developers
- Platform providers and hosting services
- Live casino streaming providers
- Payment processors facilitating gambling transactions
- Certification laboratories and auditors
- Marketing affiliates promoting gambling sites
The Class II licence is also valid for 10 years with annual renewal requirements.
Class III Licence (State Lottery)
Reserved exclusively for the Romanian national lottery company. Not available to private investors.
Key Requirements for Online Operators
Online gambling operators targeting the Romanian market must meet several specific requirements:
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Local infrastructure | Mirror server must be located on Romanian soil |
| B2B providers | Must use Romanian-licensed Class II providers for payments and platform services |
| Monitoring | Systems must be connected to ONJN central monitoring infrastructure |
| Administrative fee | €3,500 for documentation review |
| Company structure | EU/EEA entity required (non-EU entities face additional scrutiny) |
| Player protection | Must implement deposit limits, self-exclusion tools, and age verification |
| Advertising | Restricted to late-night TV/radio; no targeting of minors |
Licensed Operators in Romania
The article's May 2026 source snapshot contained 53 Romania records. That historical count and the category breakdown below have not completed the current claim-level review and must not be presented as today's operator or licence totals:
By License Type
| License Type | Count |
|---|---|
| Betting (land-based & online) | 27 |
| Online Gambling (Class I remote) | 17 |
| Software Provider (Class II) | 3 |
| Casino (land-based) | 2 |
| Platform Provider (Class II) | 2 |
| Equipment Manufacturer (Class II) | 1 |
Major Class I Operators (B2C)
Notable licensed B2C operators in Romania include Superbet, Betano (Kaizen Gaming), Unibet (Kindred Group), PokerStars (Flutter Entertainment), 888 (Evoke), Fortuna (efortuna.ro), Vlad Cazino, NetBet, Betfair, MaxBet, Get's Bet, Mozzart, Favbet, Stanleybet, Princess Casino, and Winner.
Major Class II Operators (B2B)
Licensed B2B suppliers include NetEnt (Evolution Gaming), Gaming Innovation Group (GiG), BetConstruct, Leap Gaming, and ImagineLive.
How to Verify a Romania Gambling License
To verify whether an operator holds a valid ONJN licence:
- Official ONJN Register — Visit onjn.gov.ro and check the published lists of Class I and Class II licensees
- License number format — Romanian gambling licences follow the format
L[numbers][letter][numbers](e.g., L1193258W000935) - Our historical snapshot — Search our Romania jurisdiction page for source-linked records, then confirm the current status in the applicable official ONJN publication
ONJN Blacklist
ONJN maintains a national blacklist of unauthorised gambling websites. Internet service providers in Romania are required to block access to blacklisted domains. The blacklist has been operational since 2015 when the online market was formally regulated.
Operating without an ONJN licence while targeting Romanian players is a criminal offence. Players are advised to only use operators that appear on the official ONJN register.
Recent Regulatory Developments
| Year | Development |
|---|---|
| 2009 | GEO 77/2009 establishes the legal framework for gambling |
| 2015 | Online gambling market formally regulated; ONJN blacklist launched |
| 2016 | Government Decision 111/2016 approves Methodological Norms |
| 2023 | GEO 82/2023 amends gambling law and ONJN structure |
| 2025 | Law 141/2025 increases authorisation fees; Order 79/2025 introduces national self-exclusion |
Sources and Disclaimer
This article is based on publicly available information from official sources including the ONJN register (onjn.gov.ro), Romanian legislation (GEO 77/2009, GD 111/2016, Law 141/2025), and legal analyses published by Romanian law firms. It is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
The records described by this legacy guide were captured from public ONJN material for a historical snapshot. They have not completed the current claim-level source review. For live status, consult the applicable official ONJN register directly.