Online gambling is open to foreign operators with a license - Romania

Romania is one of the most "transparent" markets in Eastern Europe for foreign iGaming brands. Remote games (betting, casino, poker, etc.) are allowed for foreign companies subject to the conditions of the national regulator ONJN (Oficiul Național pentru Jocuri de Noroc) and obtaining a local license. The model is built on a clear separation of roles, technical certification and a strict Responsible Gaming culture - therefore, entry is possible, but only for operators with mature processes.

1) Who is allowed on the market

Foreign operators (B2C, "Class I") are companies that offer games to end users through a localized site/applications.

Foreign B2B providers (Class II) - platforms, content studios, hosting, payment and KYC services, auditors/certifiers, etc.

The state lottery (Class III) is a separate regime, but not an obstacle for private online operators in their verticals.

2) Basic requirements for a foreign operator

ONJN license (Class I) and current contracts with Class II licensed providers only.

Localization: interface, rules, support - in Romanian.

KYC/AML: verification of identity and address, verification of the source of funds, storage of evidence.

Responsible Gaming: deposit/time/loss limits, "time out" and self-exclusion, visible alerts and transaction history.

Technical certification: platform, RNG, reporting and logs - according to ONJN standards; secure connections, SCA/3-D Secure.

Reporting and data storage: regulated formats, terms, availability for inspections.

Payments and payouts: "return to source" rule, transparent deadlines/fees, monitoring suspicious transactions.

Marketing: 18 + only, banning misleading language and aggressive inductees; full T&C bonuses.

3) What does the licensing path look like (simplified)

1. Preliminary compliance audit: ownership structure, beneficiaries, no conflicts/sanctions.

2. Class I package: corporate documents, finance, KYC/AML/RG/GDPR policies, platform specifications, contracts with Class II providers.

3. Technical certification: platform, RNG/games, fiscal and game logs, reporting mechanisms.

4. Integration and sandbox: exchange of test data with the regulator, checking events/logs, correcting comments.

5. ONJN solution and launch: publication of license details on the site, inclusion in the register of existing entities, start of commercial operation.

6. Continuous compliance: regular reports, renewal of permits, independent audits, quick reactions to information security incidents.

4) Role of B2B providers (Class II)

• platforms and hosting;
• studios and content aggregators (RNG/live);
• processing/payment gateways;
• CCM/antifraud/behavioral analytics;
• auditors, test labs and certification organizations.

5) Control, access and advertising

Online supervision: ONJN has a register of unlicensed domain locks and tools for interacting with communication/payment providers.

Advertising: age control, lack of promises of "easy earnings," transparent bonuses, restriction of sites with a youth audience, correct labeling of promos.

Disputes and player protection: licensed sites have settlement channels, response and escalation deadlines.

6) What does it give a foreign brand

Predictability: Easy-to-understand license classes and compliance roadmap.

Access to a mature audience: high level of mobile penetration, interest in betting, live casino and local sports calendar.

Competitive field: strict rules make entry more capital-intensive, but protect margins at the expense of a "clean" market.

7) What matters to the player

Play only on licensed sites (license number and legal entity - in the basement of the site).

Check T&C bonuses, availability of limits and self-exclusion tools, support channels.

Keep a history of transactions and screenshots of coupons - this speeds up the analysis of disputes.

8) Checklist for foreign operator

• Confirm ownership structure and KYC/AML/GDPR compliance.
• Contract all B2B partners with a Class II license.
• Pass platform/RNG certification and set up logs/reporting.
• Localize the product and support into Romanian; arrange a showcase and an RG panel.
• Set up payments with SCA, return-to-source rule, and risk monitoring.
• Prepare marketing policy: 18 +, no mislid, full T&C, frequency caps.
• Organize a cycle of audits and SLAs on incidents (IS/payments/support).

Bottom line: In Romania, online gambling is open to foreign operators, but only in the format of a strictly licensed business under the supervision of ONJN. Those who are ready to provide localization, impeccable compliance, technical certification and responsible play get access to a mature, predictable and growing market.