🇷🇴 Romania · Oficiul Naţional pentru Jocuri de Noroc (ONJN)
Romania Online Gambling Licence — 2026
Largest regulated CEE iGaming market — high volume, recently raised tax, ONJN active enforcement against blacklisted operators.
Tier 2 — Credible domestic / EU regionalRomania regulated its online gambling market in 2015 under the Gambling Act framework administered by Oficiul Naţional pentru Jocuri de Noroc (ONJN). The Romanian market is the largest regulated iGaming market in CEE with approximately 50 active B2C operators and EUR 1.5 billion+ annual GGR.
ONJN runs an active enforcement programme against unlicensed operators including blacklist publication, ISP blocking, and payment-processor cooperation. The 2024 gaming-tax increase from 16% to 21% raised the cost of Romanian operations but the market remains commercially attractive given its scale.
Quick facts
| Regulator | Oficiul Naţional pentru Jocuri de Noroc ↗ |
|---|---|
| Tier | Tier 2 — Credible domestic / EU regional |
| Licence types | Class 1 Online Gambling (B2C), Class 2 B2B, Sports betting, Casino, Poker, Bingo |
| Application cost | EUR 12,400 application + EUR 100,000 authorisation tax (Class 1) |
| Annual cost | EUR 500,000 annual licence fee (Class 1 B2C; raised from EUR 240,000 by a 2023 emergency ordinance) |
| Gaming tax | 21% on GGR (raised from 16% in 2024) |
| Corporate tax | 16% standard |
| Substance | Local representative office; substance requirements moderate |
| Timeline | 3-6 months |
Pros
- Large Romanian retail market (one of largest in CEE)
- Established regulated framework since 2015
- 16% CIT (one of lower EU rates)
Cons
- 21% gaming tax (recently raised)
- Aggressive ONJN enforcement and blacklist enforcement
- Local-language compliance requirements
- EUR 500k annual fee plus a EUR 1M capital guarantee (2025) price out small operators
Best for
- CEE-focused operators
- Operators targeting Romanian-language market
ONJN licence classes
Class 1 is the principal B2C operator licence covering online casino, sports betting, poker, and bingo. Class 2 is the B2B supplier licence. Most B2C operators apply for Class 1 with all product sub-categories. The EUR 500,000 annual fee (raised from EUR 240,000 by a 2023 emergency ordinance) is the principal entry barrier — uniform across operators regardless of revenue — and from 2025 operators must also post a EUR 1,000,000 capital guarantee.
21% gaming tax and operational economics
The 2024 tax increase from 16% to 21% raised effective cost materially. Combined with 16% corporation tax (the standard Romanian rate, among the lower in EU), total tax burden on Romanian customer revenue approaches 32-35% for typical operating margins.
Application process
- ONJN pre-engagement and scope confirmation
- Romanian representative office establishment
- Application file with Romanian-language business plan and technical documentation
- ONJN review — typically 3-4 months
- Technical certification
- Licence grant with EUR 100k authorisation tax + EUR 500k annual fee payment
Operational realities
Capital requirements
From 2025 operators must post a EUR 1,000,000 capital guarantee regardless of revenue, with the EUR 500,000 annual licence fee on top. ONJN also requires demonstrated financial resources.
Player protection
Self-exclusion mechanisms, deposit limits, marketing restrictions. ONJN integrated with Romanian banking system for blacklist enforcement.
Banking & payment processing
Romanian banks (BCR, Banca Transilvania, ING Romania) bank ONJN-licensed operators routinely.
B2B vs B2C licensing
Class 2 B2B licence available for platform and supplier operations. Lighter requirements than Class 1.
Recent developments (2025-2026)
A 2023 emergency ordinance raised the online annual licence fee to EUR 500,000 (from EUR 240,000) and, from 2025, requires a EUR 1,000,000 capital guarantee regardless of revenue. The 2024 reforms raised gaming tax from 16% to 21%; bonus and advertising rules tightened.
How it compares
Versus other CEE: Romania is the largest CEE market by volume. Versus Tier 1: substantially lower cost than Malta/IoM but lower reputational signal.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Romanian gambling tax?
21% on GGR (raised from 16% in 2024). Plus 16% corporation tax.
How much does a Romanian gambling licence cost?
EUR 12,400 application + EUR 100,000 authorisation tax + EUR 500,000 annual fee for Class 1 B2C (raised from EUR 240,000 by a 2023 emergency ordinance). From 2025 a EUR 1,000,000 capital guarantee also applies.
Named experts covering Romania
Real, publicly-verifiable practitioners whose work informs our coverage of this jurisdiction.