How to Start an Online Casino in Romania

A practical, expert-led guide to launching a licensed iGaming operation in one of Eastern Europe’s most dynamic regulated markets.

1. Is Online Gambling Legal in Romania?

Online gambling in Romania is not only legal — it is comprehensively regulated. The country operates under a dedicated licensing framework administered by the National Gambling Office (ONJN), which oversees all major iGaming verticals including online casino games, sports betting, poker, bingo, and more. This structured environment distinguishes Romania from many of its regional neighbours, offering operators a transparent and enforceable pathway to market entry.

The regulatory foundation dates to 2009, when Romania first codified its gambling legislation. A major technical overhaul followed in 2016, introducing detailed compliance requirements for software, infrastructure, and player protection. Between 2022 and 2024, the framework underwent further refinement, incorporating stricter controls, updated fiscal instruments, and an expanded scope of obligations for both B2C operators and B2B service providers.

The result is a market that rewards preparation. For operators who approach it with the right legal, technical, and financial groundwork, Romania represents a well-governed entry point into Eastern Europe’s iGaming sector.

2. Romania’s iGaming Market: Size, Growth, and Opportunity

Romania is one of Eastern Europe’s most mature iGaming markets, backed by a population of nearly 19 million and strong digital connectivity. With over a decade of formal regulation behind it, the market has developed a sophisticated player base and a competitive, well-established operator landscape.

The market’s trajectory changed decisively in 2021, when UEFA Euro 2021 triggered a 90% surge in online gambling activity. Rather than a short-lived spike, this proved to be a structural inflection point. Consumer habits shifted, mobile adoption accelerated, and online gaming revenues entered a sustained growth phase. By 2024, Romania’s online gambling segment was generating €752.8 million annually. Forecasts project the market will approach €1 billion by 2029, driven by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.6%.

For iGaming operators and investors evaluating European market entry, Romania sits at a compelling intersection: an established regulatory framework, a growing and digitally connected player base, and a market still below its long-term revenue ceiling.

3. Popular Online Gambling Verticals in Romania

Sports betting is by far the dominant vertical, accounting for approximately 58% of Romania’s online gambling market in 2025. Football commands the largest share of player attention, but Romanian bettors also show meaningful engagement with tennis, rugby, and gymnastics — reflecting a sporting culture that extends well beyond the most obvious European markets. Operators targeting this segment should prioritise live betting capabilities, competitive odds infrastructure, and integration with local payment preferences.

Online casino games represent around 36% of the market. Romanian players display a distinctive preference for classic-style slot games — particularly fruit-themed and retro-style titles that closely mirror the land-based machines familiar to older and mid-tier player segments. For operators building engagement and long-term retention, this preference is an important product positioning signal: a library anchored by proven, familiar titles tends to outperform novelty-heavy approaches in this market.

Poker holds a niche but stable position at roughly 2% of the market, while live casino formats — including blackjack, roulette, and game show-style products — are gaining traction and represent a promising area for operators looking to differentiate on product breadth. All games offered must be certified by an ONJN-approved testing laboratory and supplied by a licensed B2B partner.

4. Player Demographics and Behaviour

As of 2025, approximately 2.4 million Romanians gamble at least once a year, with 1.5 million participating online. Weekly active participation sits at around 8% of the adult population — a meaningful engagement rate that underscores both the depth of the market and the importance of retention-focused product strategies.

The most active segment consists of young, single men aged 18 to 24, typically urban-based, with an average monthly household income of approximately €562. This demographic profile has direct implications for product design, bonus structures, and marketing channel selection: mobile-first experiences, social features, and sports-integrated offerings tend to resonate strongly with this group.

Desktop usage still accounts for a portion of gameplay, but mobile is clearly the primary growth driver. Romania’s rapid expansion of digital infrastructure is pushing players toward faster interfaces, app-based access, and game experiences built for smaller screens. Operators who fail to optimise for mobile from the outset will find themselves structurally disadvantaged in this market.

5. Romanian Gambling Licences Explained

Romania’s iGaming regulatory model is built on controlled openness. Both domestic and international operators are permitted to enter, but only through a single national licensing framework. There is no mechanism for foreign licences — from Malta, Gibraltar, Curaçao, or elsewhere — to substitute for ONJN authorisation. Every operator targeting Romanian players must hold a valid ONJN licence.

The sole exception to this open licensing model is the lottery sector, which remains an exclusive state monopoly operated by the Romanian National Lottery under a Class III licence. For all other iGaming verticals, the market is accessible to any qualifying operator.

By 2025, more than 30 B2C operators held active licences, reflecting steady market maturation. Operating without a valid licence is not a regulatory technicality — it is a criminal offence under Romanian law. The ONJN maintains a public blacklist of unauthorised gambling websites and works with internet service providers to enforce access restrictions against unlicensed operators.

Both Class I and Class II licences are valid for ten years but require annual renewal and payment of the corresponding fees. Letting a licence lapse — or operating in breach of licence conditions — can result in fines, confiscation of revenues, and criminal prosecution.

6. Who Can Apply for an ONJN Gambling Licence?

Eligibility for a Romanian gambling licence begins with the jurisdiction of incorporation. Under Romanian law, only companies registered in the European Union, the European Economic Area, or Switzerland may apply. Entities incorporated outside these jurisdictions are not eligible, regardless of their operational track record or the strength of their existing licences elsewhere.

Foreign operators within the eligible zone must also establish a local presence for tax purposes — either through a Romanian subsidiary or by appointing a fiscal representative. This requirement ensures that licensed operations remain visible to the regulator and subject to Romanian tax law. It is common practice for international operators to establish a dedicated Romanian entity as part of the licensing process.

Beyond corporate eligibility, applicants must satisfy a set of substantive conditions: a clean criminal record for key personnel, demonstrated financial stability, complete technical documentation for the proposed operation, background checks and financial disclosures for beneficial owners, certification from an ONJN-approved testing laboratory, and an approved software stack. The application review process typically takes two to four months, with the timeline heavily influenced by the completeness and precision of the submitted documentation. Working with experienced local legal counsel materially reduces both the processing time and the risk of avoidable delays.

7. Licence Types, Costs, and Government Fees

Entering the Romanian iGaming market requires a clear-eyed view of the financial commitments involved. The ONJN licensing framework imposes both one-time fees and recurring annual obligations, and operators must also maintain significant financial guarantees. Below is a breakdown of the key cost components for 2025.

These figures make clear that Romania is not a low-barrier entry market. The combination of upfront fees, substantial annual obligations, and large financial guarantees means that successful applicants are typically well-capitalised operators with a credible long-term strategy for the Romanian market. For M&A buyers and platform investors, acquiring an existing licensed entity can represent a more efficient route to market than navigating the full licensing process from scratch.

8. Compliance Requirements: Servers, Suppliers, and Certification

Local Server Infrastructure

Romanian regulatory requirements extend beyond legal documentation into technical infrastructure. All gambling data must be accessible to the ONJN in real time, which means operators are required to maintain a mirror server physically located within Romania. This server must continuously replicate game logs, RNG output, betting records, transaction trails, and financial data.

This obligation applies even where an operator’s core infrastructure is hosted elsewhere in the EU. The local mirror is a non-negotiable compliance requirement, and audit readiness depends on its proper configuration and maintenance.

Mandatory Use of Certified Suppliers

Perhaps the most operationally significant aspect of Romania’s compliance framework is the requirement that operators work exclusively with ONJN-approved suppliers at every level of their technology stack. This encompasses the gaming platform, hosting provider, payment processors, game studios, RNG providers, and even affiliate marketing networks. There are no exceptions and no grandfather provisions for internationally recognised vendors.

Global recognition carries no automatic weight in Romania. Even widely trusted testing laboratories such as GLI, eCOGRA, and iTech Labs must first obtain a Romanian Class II licence before their certifications are considered valid under ONJN rules. Before onboarding any supplier, operators should verify their status through the official ONJN registry. Non-compliant supplier relationships are not merely a risk — they are grounds for licence disqualification.

9. Player Integrity: KYC, AML, and Responsible Gambling

Know Your Customer (KYC)

Romania’s regulatory framework imposes a layered approach to player protection, beginning with identity verification. Operators must confirm both the identity and legal eligibility of every player before allowing access to real-money games or processing withdrawals. The system must support encrypted upload and secure storage of identity documents, account restriction for unverified users, and prevention of duplicate registrations across the platform. One player, one account — this principle is a foundational compliance requirement.

Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Customer Due Diligence

Once a player’s identity is confirmed, compliance obligations shift toward ongoing financial monitoring. Romanian law requires operators to continuously monitor player activity, adjust risk classifications as behavioural patterns evolve, and flag anomalies such as unusually large deposits, erratic wagering behaviour, or activity inconsistent with a player’s established profile. Source-of-funds checks must be initiated when deposits or withdrawals reach levels that raise concern.

Real-time anomaly detection — based on predefined thresholds and behavioural indicators — must be operational at all times. Suspicious activity must be reported to Romania’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) via Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs). Operators are also required to maintain a documented AML policy and appoint a designated AML Officer responsible for overseeing compliance.

Responsible Gambling (RG) Obligations

Responsible gambling is treated in Romanian law as a parallel compliance obligation to AML — equally binding, equally auditable. While AML addresses external threats such as money laundering and financial crime, responsible gambling frameworks are designed to protect players from harm caused by the products themselves. Operators must implement configurable deposit limits on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis; self-exclusion mechanisms (both temporary and indefinite); in-game messaging that promotes self-awareness and informs players of session duration or spending levels; and direct links to certified national support services for gambling addiction and behavioural counselling.

10. Platform Security and Fair Play Standards

Security and game integrity are not optional enhancements in Romania — they are enforceable regulatory requirements. All sensitive player data must be encrypted, and protected server infrastructure is mandatory. A separate secure server may be required for the storage of identity documents, payment credentials, and personal data.

Anti-fraud and anti-collusion systems are required, particularly for peer-to-peer environments such as poker, where coordinated play represents a material risk to game integrity. A comprehensive game monitoring framework must be capable of validating RNG output, confirming payout calculations, and detecting any form of manipulation.

An increasing number of operators are adopting provably fair technologies — mechanisms that allow both players and regulators to independently verify that game outcomes have not been tampered with. While these systems are not explicitly mandated by ONJN rules, they directly reflect the regulator’s underlying expectation: that fairness must be technically demonstrable, not assumed.

11. Accepted Payment Methods in Romania

Romania’s payment ecosystem reflects a hybrid model: global in interface, local in execution. Operators must integrate with ONJN-licensed Payment Service Providers (PSPs) exclusively. These providers ensure secure processing, Romanian Leu (RON) settlement, and the real-time data access required for regulatory audits.

Visa and Mastercard are the most widely used payment methods for both deposits and withdrawals, routed through licensed PSPs such as Nuvei, SafeCharge, Paysafe, and Worldpay. E-wallets including Skrill and Neteller are popular with experienced online gamblers and are supported by most compliant operators. Bank transfers remain the preferred option for high-value transactions, with players typically favouring direct payouts to Romanian IBAN accounts. Paysafecard serves cash-preferred users and must be processed through a certified voucher provider. Local fintech solutions — including MobilPay, SmartPay, and Rapid Transfer — offer RON-native services and tend to build stronger trust with domestic players than international alternatives.

All player funds must be held in segregated bank accounts denominated in RON. Even where deposits are made in other currencies via e-wallets, the operational balance must be converted and maintained in RON.

Cryptocurrency: The Current Position

As of 2025, cryptocurrency is not a permitted payment method under Romanian gambling law. The ONJN does not authorise deposits, withdrawals, or in-game transactions using digital currencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, or stablecoins. Operators may not provide crypto wallets, convert cryptocurrency to fiat on-platform, or promote crypto payment options to Romanian players. Workarounds via off-platform exchanges are tolerated only where the conversion is fully external to the operator and the deposit into the platform is made through a licensed fiat PSP. Until the legal framework evolves, cryptocurrency sits entirely outside the ONJN-compliant payment ecosystem.

12. Marketing and Affiliate Strategy for Romanian iGaming

Marketing is legally permitted in Romania’s regulated iGaming market, but it operates within a defined compliance perimeter. All promotional content must be accurate, age-restricted to verified adults (18+), and accompanied by responsible gambling messaging. Affiliates who promote gambling products must hold an ONJN Class II licence. Operators are legally responsible for their affiliates’ conduct, making thorough vetting and ongoing compliance monitoring essential rather than optional.

Most affiliate programmes in Romania are structured around revenue share models (typically 25–40%), cost-per-acquisition (CPA) deals, or hybrid combinations of the two. Careful affiliate programme design — with transparent tracking, segmented reporting, and performance-linked tier structures — is an important component of sustainable customer acquisition in this market.

SEO remains the most cost-efficient long-term acquisition channel. Romanian players predominantly search in their native language, making localised content a strategic priority. High-intent keyword categories include legal online casino, casino bonus offers, free spins, and slot games in Romanian. Paid search is available through Google Ads for certified advertisers with valid ONJN licences, subject to targeting restrictions and mandatory responsible gambling disclosures. Social platforms including Facebook and Instagram permit gambling advertising under similar conditions, though account-level verification requirements can add friction to campaign setup.

Localisation extends beyond language. Romanian players respond strongly to promotions tied to local sporting events, national holidays, and culturally familiar content. Matched deposit bonuses with transparent rollover terms, free spins on retro-style slot games, and free bets linked to football or tennis events consistently outperform generic campaign formats. All marketing materials must comply with GDPR, and responsible gambling tools must be clearly accessible within the user interface.

13. Conclusion: Is Romania Right for Your iGaming Business?

Romania presents a genuine opportunity for iGaming operators willing to meet its requirements in full. The market combines a clear regulatory framework, a digitally connected and growing player base, and a revenue trajectory approaching €1 billion by the end of the decade. For operators who have done the groundwork, Romania offers something that is increasingly rare in European iGaming: a stable, well-governed market with meaningful upside still ahead.

At the same time, the barriers to entry are substantial. Between licensing fees, financial guarantees, mirror server obligations, certified supplier requirements, and ongoing compliance costs, launching a Romanian online casino demands serious capital and operational commitment. Corner-cutting is not an option — the regulator’s standards are exacting and the consequences of non-compliance are severe.

For operators considering M&A as a route to market, acquiring an existing licensed entity in Romania can offer a faster and more predictable path than building from scratch. At CasinosBroker.com, we regularly advise on the acquisition and sale of licensed iGaming businesses across European regulated markets, including Romania. Whether you are evaluating a direct licence application or exploring acquisition opportunities, the right advisory support makes a material difference.

If you are ready to explore Romania as part of your iGaming growth strategy, we would be glad to assist. Reach out to our advisory team at CasinosBroker.com to discuss your options.

14. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Is online gambling legal in Romania?

Yes. Online gambling has been legal and regulated in Romania since 2009, under the supervision of the National Gambling Office (ONJN). All major verticals — including casino games, sports betting, and poker — are permitted for licensed operators.

2. Do I need a Romanian licence to accept Romanian players?

Yes. Foreign licences from other jurisdictions, including MGA or Curaçao, are not recognised by ONJN. Any operator accepting bets from Romanian residents must hold a valid ONJN Class I licence. Operating without one is a criminal offence.

3. What is the cost of a Romanian online casino licence?

The initial application and issuance fees total approximately €14,000. However, ongoing costs are significantly larger: the annual Class I licence fee is €300,000, the GGR tax is 21% (minimum €400,000), the responsible gambling contribution is €500,000/year, and operators must maintain a financial guarantee of €5,000,000 for casino operations.

4. Can non-EU companies apply for a Romanian gambling licence?

No. Romanian law restricts eligibility to companies registered in the EU, EEA, or Switzerland. Non-EU entities must establish a qualifying subsidiary or local presence within these jurisdictions before applying.

5. How long does it take to obtain an ONJN licence?

The standard processing period is two to four months from submission of a complete application. Timeline can be shortened with thorough documentation and experienced local legal support.

6. Are there restrictions on which software suppliers I can use?

Yes. Romanian regulations require operators to work exclusively with ONJN-approved (Class II licensed) suppliers across all aspects of their operation — including the gaming platform, payment processors, game studios, and affiliates. International recognition or certification from GLI, eCOGRA, or iTech Labs does not satisfy this requirement unless the lab also holds a Romanian Class II licence.

7. Is cryptocurrency accepted for gambling payments in Romania?

No. As of 2025, cryptocurrency is not a permitted payment method under ONJN rules. Operators cannot offer crypto deposits, withdrawals, or wallet functionality. All transactions must flow through ONJN-licensed fiat PSPs in RON.

8. What is a mirror server and why is it required in Romania?

A mirror server is a local copy of your platform’s operational data, hosted within Romania. ONJN requires real-time access to game logs, RNG outputs, transaction records, and financial data. Even if your core infrastructure is hosted in another EU country, a local mirror server is a mandatory compliance requirement.

9. Can I acquire an existing licensed online casino in Romania instead of applying for a new licence?

Yes, and for many operators this is the more efficient path to market. Acquiring a licensed iGaming business eliminates the application process and transfers the operating licence along with the business, subject to ONJN approval of the change of ownership. CasinosBroker.com advises on iGaming M&A transactions across European regulated markets, including Romania.

10. What are the responsible gambling obligations for Romanian operators?

Operators must implement configurable deposit limits (daily, weekly, monthly), temporary and permanent self-exclusion mechanisms, in-game time and spending awareness messaging, and direct access to certified national support services for gambling-related harm. Responsible gambling compliance is treated by ONJN as a parallel obligation to AML — equally binding and subject to audit.