Comparison with Hungary and Bulgaria - Romania

Romania, Hungary and Bulgaria are three neighboring states of Central-Eastern Europe with different approaches to regulating gambling. All three countries have legalized online gambling, but they do it differently: Romania and Bulgaria build open licenses with multi-level supervision, while Hungary follows the path of tightly controlled admission and a limited number of operators.

1) Licensing and market access

Parameter	Romania	Hungary	Bulgaria
Regulator	ONJN (Oficiul Național pentru Jocuri de Noroc)	SZTFH (Supervisory Authority for Regulatory Affairs)	NAP (National Tax Service of Bulgaria)
Licenses	Multilevel model: Class I (operators), Class II (providers)	Licenses for operators from the EEA from 2023; casino - concessions	Single license for online and offline games
Access by foreign operators	Yes, ONJN license and localization	Yes, only from the EEA, with 5 years of experience and capital> 1 billion HUF	Yes, no EEA restrictions; international brands allowed
License validity period	Up to 10 years (with extension)	Up to 7 years	5 years (updatable)
Barrier level	Medium - strict compliance, but transparent procedures	High - filter experience and capital	Medium - technical audit and tax reporting

Conclusion: Romania is the most transparent and balanced market, where regulation is formalized but predictable; Hungary relies on quality control and limited access, while Bulgaria relies on a mass format with a moderate load.

2) Taxation and fees

Tax type	Romania	Hungary	Bulgaria
Online operators	30% GGR (from 2025, minimum €480k)	22% GGR	20% GGR (no minimum threshold)
Offline operators	25% GGR	22% GGR	15% on casino, 20% on betting
Corporate tax	16%	9%	10%
Payout tax	Progressive (4-40%)	Held at operator level	10% fixed

Conclusion: tax pressure in Romania has become the highest in the region, but is offset by stable regulation and trust in licenses. Hungary and Bulgaria are betting on moderate GGR rates, stimulating market development.

3) Advertising and Responsible Gaming

Aspect	Romania	Hungary	Bulgaria
Age limit	18+	18+	18+
Advertising control	Hard: transparent T&C, mislide ban, age-gating	Very strict: minimal creativity, limitation on sponsorship	Moderate: advertising with RG disclaimers allowed
Responsible Gaming	Complete set of RG tools (limits, self-exclusion, reports)	Mandatory self-exclusion and access control	Voluntary registration and hotline
Cybersecurity and AML	EU standards, AMLD5 reporting	Enhanced SZTFH control, audit every 12 months.	Minimum requirements, focus on RG communication

Conclusion: Romania and Hungary are close in terms of player protection, but Romania offers more technological RG tools and public reporting. Bulgaria is still softer, compensating for this by self-regulation of the industry.

4) Online gambling and technology

Romania: developed local Class II providers (Playson, EveryMatrix, BetConstruct), BI analytics and API for ONJN.

Hungary: integration with European platforms, mandatory infrastructure verification and fault tolerance.

Bulgaria: concentration of providers (CT Gaming, EGT) and quick payments, but less attention to RG and AML.

Forecast:

By 2030, Romania could become a hub for B2B development and analytics in the region; Hungary is the control "premium" market, and Bulgaria is the mass hub of slots and live content.

5) Overall attractiveness score (on a 5-point scale)

Parameter	Romania	Hungary	Bulgaria
Transparency of regulation	5	4	3
Ease of entry	4	2	5
Taxation rates	3	4	4
Player protection	5	5	3
Market manufacturability	5	4	4

Bottom line:

Romania is a mature and technological market, with clear rules, open access and high tax, offset by trust and stability.
Hungary is conservative and strict, relies on control and quality.
Bulgaria is dynamic and flexible, suitable for fast launches and the mass segment, but requires attention to compliance and RG.

Conclusion:

In 2025, Romania confidently occupies a leading position in the region in terms of regulatory maturity and digitalization. If Hungary holds the bar for "elite access," and Bulgaria attracts with low taxes, then it is Romania that combines legal predictability, a high level of player protection and the export potential of iGaming technologies - the key factors that make it the standard of Central Europe on the horizon until 2030.