iGaming in Romania: A Mature Market with High Regulatory Standards

Romania is considered one of the most advanced Eastern European countries when it comes to online gambling regulation. Since 2015, the sector has been officially overseen by the national regulator ONJN (Oficiul Național pentru Jocuri de Noroc), ensuring transparent rules and strict oversight of operators. Despite a high level of legalization, the industry still faces several challenges.

Regulatory Authority

ONJN is responsible for:

• Issuing and renewing licenses
• Enforcing compliance with regulations
• Preventing financial misconduct
• Overseeing responsible gambling mechanisms

Regulatory Framework

The online and offline segments are regulated separately:

• Offline includes casinos, lotteries, slot halls, and land-based betting shops
• Online covers sports betting, poker, and virtual casinos

Requirements for Online Operators

• A Class I license is required (valid for 10 years, € 300K/year)
• KYC procedures and self-exclusion tools are mandatory
• Deposit and loss limits must be in place
• Additional fees: € 500K for responsible gambling programs and 0.5% contribution to the cultural fund
• Player winnings are taxed progressively from 3% to 40% depending on the amount

Leading Market Players

• Superbet — a local leader with a strong live betting section
• Betano — an international brand with a broad betting offering
• Fortuna — combines offline and online presence
• PokerStars — one of the largest poker platforms globally

Key Challenges

• Increasing gambling addiction among youth (up to 5% of adults show signs of problematic gambling)
• Insufficient self-regulation measures
• Continued operation of unlicensed platforms
• Need to update regulations to address emerging formats like esports, gamification, and VR

Overview

Romania offers a mature and transparent iGaming environment under the strict supervision of ONJN. However, further efforts are needed to enhance player protection and adapt to evolving formats. For licensed operators, the market remains attractive and predictable.