Online gambling regulation in Romania

Prohibited. Likely based on GEO 77/2009 general prohibition on organising/promoting unlicensed gambling plus ONJN secondary regulations and Audiovisual Code; exact articles not confirmed.

Advertising gambling is permitted only for licensed operators; promotion of unlicensed operators is treated as illegal gambling and targeted via blacklisting, supplier bans, and enforcement by ONJN.

Oficiul Național pentru Jocuri de Noroc (ONJN) / National Gambling Office — www.onjn.gov.ro

Government Emergency Ordinance (GEO) No. 77/2009 on the organisation and operation of games of chance, as subsequently amended, including by GEO 82/2023 and Law No. 141/2025.

Online casino: Licensed. Online sports betting: Licensed.

The regulator publishes a register of licensed operators. ONJN publishes a public list of licensed remote gambling operators and blacklisted domains on its official site.

https://www.onjn.gov.ro/

• ISP/domain blocking via ONJN blacklist and mandatory redirection of traffic to ONJN information page
• Prohibitions on suppliers serving blacklisted or unlicensed operators, including payment and platform blocking duties
• Administrative sanctions and fines imposed by ONJN for illegal or non-compliant gambling activities
• Obligations on gambling software and platform providers to block access for Romania-based players using illegal sites

• Advertising allowed but strictly regulated under GEO 77/2009 and subsequent regulations; must comply with medium- and location-specific rules
• All gambling ads must display licence series and number, ONJN logo, and prohibition for minors
• Outdoor gambling ads limited to maximum 35 m² since October 2023; larger banners prohibited
• TV gambling advertising limited to late-night slots, applied in practice between 23:00 and 06:00 to protect minors

• Law No. 141/2025 and subsequent amendments strengthening measures against illegal gambling, including supplier prohibitions and blocking obligations, effective December 18, 2025
• Implementation from January 21, 2026 of mandatory geolocation systems for slot machines and VLTs to track devices on Romanian territory
• 2025 ONJN actions blacklisting and ordering ISP blocking and redirection for 30 unlicensed online gambling sites offering casino and sports betting

• Exact provision explicitly criminalising or fining advertising of unlicensed/illegal online gambling could not be confidently identified; likely derives from GEO 77/2009 and secondary ONJN decisions.
• Whether online advertising of illegal operators is a standalone offence or enforced mainly via general prohibitions on unlicensed operations and supplier/affiliate obligations remains unclear.
• Specific article numbers for ISP blocking and mandatory redirection to ONJN IP for blacklisted domains were not confirmed from primary legal texts.
• Precise section of the updated Audiovisual Code governing TV gambling ad time slots was not identified; sources cite practical application between 23:00 and 06:00.
• Whether paid mystery/loot boxes are treated as gambling, consumer products, or are specifically regulated in Romania.
• Whether Romanian law has a specific current rule for dual-currency sweepstakes casinos beyond general gambling principles.
• The exact legal classification of prediction markets after ONJN's 2025 Polymarket statement.

1. gamblinglawindex.com/jurisdictions/romania/
2. practiceguides.chambers.com/practice-guides/gaming-law-2025/romania/trends-and-developments
3. szilaghi.com/romania-slot-machines-oug-7-2026-gambling/
4. legal500.com/guides/chapter/romania-gambling-law/
5. schoenherr.eu/content/your-gambling-licence-will-no-longer-be-enough-a-new-local-veto-power-that-operators-and-investors-cannot-ignore
6. vixio.com/articles/gambling-regulatory-deadlines-to-watch-in-january-2026
7. gamblingmaps.org/map/regulations/romania/for-operators
8. gamblingmaps.org/map/regulations/romania
9. lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=c4e52036-12bd-4855-b625-8ffb9aa63203
10. iclg.com/practice-areas/gambling-laws-and-regulations/romania
11. europeancasinoassociation.org/country-reports
12. somuchpoker.com/poker-guides/europe/romania
13. advennt.com/jurisdictions/online-gaming/romania/poker/
14. practiceguides.chambers.com/practice-guides/comparison/953/17726/27682-27683-27684-27685-27686-27687-27688-27689-27690-27691-27692-27693
15. linkedin.com/posts/the-betting-bulletin_igaming-onlinegambling-gamblingregulation-activity-7493580861553172480-WHRY
16. softswiss.com/gambling-regulation-map/romania/
17. lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=af5e4b10-9888-4091-8cc2-313db43d2dc8
18. igamingbusiness.com/legal-compliance/regulation/romania-funded-treatment-and-targeted-black-market-in-fy25/
19. practiceguides.chambers.com/practice-guides/comparison/952/14807/23130-23131-23132-23133-23134-23135-23136-23137-23138-23139-23140-23141-23142
20. jemlit.com/ro
21. bitdefender.com/en-us/blog/labs/sponsored-ad-fraud-mystery-box-scams-flood-social-media
22. betterchecked.com/review/earnlab-test-review
23. casinorankr.com/mystery-boxes/reviews
24. covers.com/casino/guides/best-mystery-box-sites

Researched 2026-09-21 from public sources and summarised by the Brandfense team. Not legal advice — confirm with the regulator or your counsel before acting.