Online Gambling Regulations in Romania

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Deni

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Expertise: Casino Content Writing, Journalism & (PR), Gambling Regulations, Dutch & German Gambling Markets

Hi, I'm Deni! I'm a research obsessive with a passion for gambling regulations, market trends, and casino news. I dig deep into every topic I cover - so every article, review, or guide I write is built on solid research and real detail.

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Published: August 19, 2020
Updated: April 2, 2026

The online gambling industry is thriving, and because of this, plenty of countries are reconsidering their laws. Instead of outlawing gambling, they are opening their market to local and foreign online casino operators.

However, there are others who have been opposing gambling from the start.

Looking at Romania, you see a rollercoaster ride when it comes to the legalisation or banning of gambling. Today, the sector is thriving, but things haven’t always been this simple.

Online gambling regulations in Romania — Online gambling regulations, laws and taxes in Romania

In an attempt to understand the gambling regulations in Romania, we’ll be looking at the history and laws as well as any relevant changes made in recent years.

As a Romanian player, this is your guide for all relevant information if you want to play safely and without getting into trouble.

History and laws of gambling in Romania

Romania is yet another country with a long and often confusing history of legal gambling.

It all started in 1906 when gambling was made legal, and the national lottery, Loteria Romana, was established.
But when Nicolae Ceaușescu was in power during the Communist dictatorship, gambling was made illegal.
In 1990, when his rule came to an end, gambling was once more allowed in the country.
In 1991, the very first post-communist casino opened its doors.

When it comes to online gambling, the story of their laws becomes even more interesting. The National Gambling Office is the one that takes care of all Romanian gambling matters and works in collaboration with the Supervisory Committee.

The latter has the power to authorise operators into the Romanian gambling market. The Committee is also responsible for implementing the rules and regulations operators are required to follow.

Online gambling has been legal in Romania for many years now, but there was a long time period when it was not available because there was no institution responsible for it.

Only in December 2014 did the Romanian authorities start paying closer attention to the issue. It should be said that the current monopoly of the Romanian gambling market remains with Loteria Romana, which provides both online and offline gambling options.

The main law regarding online gambling is the Government Emergency Ordinance, which was passed into law by the end of 2014. It covers all regulations and takes care of outdated laws, especially when it comes to online gambling.

Due to the pressure Romania received from the European Commission, the gambling officials decided to remove all restrictions they previously had on online gambling.

The new laws:

Cover taxes, payment methods available and other financial business
Implement stricter measures to help prevent gambling addictions and the chance of underage children gaining access to online gambling games.
Break down the types of licences which online gambling operators can be granted. There are three classes of licenses, each valid for 10 years once approved. However, they can be revoked if operators don’t follow the rules and regulations.

The Romanian authorities also established a special commission tasked to ensure that the measures taken to prevent problem gambling or underage gambling are compatible with the European Committee’s standard requirements.

Responsible gambling

As part of their effort to eliminate any problem gambling, the Romanian authorities have a set of rules which online operators are required to comply with if they wish to provide their services to residents.

These rules include information on playing responsibly and how to get help, as well as steps to be taken to protect players, such as:

Operators are required to add a clock to their website to show players how long they’ve been playing.
All information should be available in their home language.
Any player who has gambled for over 12 hours has to be notified of the possible dangers they face.
Players should also be able to set play limits or deactivate their accounts temporarily or permanently.

Are online gambling winnings taxable in Romania?

Yes, you are required to declare your winnings and pay taxes (4%) on them.

Where most countries often only tax the casinos, Romania is one country that requires players to pay tax on their online gambling winnings. To show how serious the matter is, the Romanian gambling officials have also tasked operators with keeping a record of profits higher than a certain amount earned by players.

By law, the operators are required to send this information on to officials, and players who have not declared their winnings can get into trouble.

Is online gambling legal in Romania?

Romania made online gambling legal in 2010. In recent years, government officials have focused more on online casinos and have opened their market to foreign operators.

So, online gambling is completely legal in the country and punters can play online as much as they please. The country has gone to a lot of trouble to provide lenient gambling laws and legislation, while still putting the players and their safety first.

As of 2026, the country has tightened its regulations with more severe advertising restrictions, raised taxes, and stricter rules for operators. The biggest change for players is raising the minimum gambling age to 21.

Just make sure you play at a government-approved or internationally licensed operator to know you're safe. Browse through our list of top-rated online casinos if you don't know where to start.

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By Deni

Verified Casino Expert

Expertise: Casino Content Writing, Journalism & (PR), Gambling Regulations, Dutch & German Gambling Markets

Learn about our Review Process

Anything incorrect or missing?

Last updated: April 2, 2026

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Romania - online gambling regulations

Contents

Contents

History and laws of gambling in Romania

Responsible gambling

Are online gambling winnings taxable in Romania?