Why Szilaghi
What you get that a generalist will not give you
Published costs, with sources
Every government fee on this site carries its statute and a review date — currently 8 October 2026. You can check our numbers before you call us.
Lawyers in the team
Romanian legal advice comes from our in-house avocați, practicing under Law no. 51/1995 — not a separate firm you have to brief and pay again.
On the ground in Romania
We act as Romanian representative and local director for foreign ONJN licensees and file their monthly reports. We know how the rules are applied, not just how they read.
We tell you when not to apply
Fit-and-proper, source-of-funds and tax problems are found in week one, by us, not by the regulator. A refused application stays on the record.
One team, one story
License, corporate structure, tax, compliance and banking run together, so the regulator, the bank and the tax authority read the same file.
Fixed scopes, in writing
Each stage has a defined deliverable and fee before work starts. Government fees are passed through at cost, itemized.
Services
One team for the license and everything it depends on
B2C gambling licenses
Casino, sportsbook, live casino and poker licenses, from application to grant.
- Typical timeline
- 2 weeks – 9 months
Popular: Romania Class 1, Malta, Curaçao, Anjouan
Scope and deliverablesB2B supplier licenses
Game studios, aggregators, platforms and live studios that need operator-grade credentials.
- Typical timeline
- 2 weeks – 6 months
Popular: Romania Class 2, Malta, Isle of Man, Ontario
Scope and deliverablesCompany formation and substance
Operating and holding entities, registered office, company secretary, local directors and key-function holders.
- Typical timeline
- 1 – 6 weeks
Popular: Cyprus, Anjouan, Nevis, Colombia
Scope and deliverablesBanking and payments
Corporate and settlement accounts, acquirer, EMI and PSP introductions, and the underwriting file they ask for.
- Typical timeline
- Starts in week 1
Popular: EU-licensed, Offshore
Scope and deliverablesCompliance and AML
AML/CFT and KYC frameworks, responsible gambling, GDPR, technical certification and annual returns.
- Typical timeline
- Ongoing
Popular: Romania, Malta, Great Britain
Scope and deliverablesRomanian representation
Representative and local director for foreign licensees, monthly ONJN reporting, inspections and renewals.
- Typical timeline
- Monthly retainer
Who we work with
Operators, suppliers and the businesses around them
B2C operators
Casino, sportsbook, live casino and poker brands choosing their first or next license.
Romania Class 1B2B suppliers
Game studios, aggregators, platforms and live studios that need operator-grade credentials.
Romania Class 2Affiliates
Affiliate and media businesses that need licensing in regulated markets.
When affiliates need a licensePayment providers
PSPs and processors serving licensed operators, and their supplier licenses.
Payments and bankingInvestors and acquirers
Due diligence on licensed targets, and buying or selling licensed companies.
TransactionsProcess
How an engagement runs
- Week 0
Jurisdiction fit assessment
A 20-minute call and a written memo within 48 hours: which license, what it costs in year one, what could stop it.
- Weeks 1–3
Structure and UBO file
Entities, IP, tax position, ownership chart and source-of-funds pack — screened before anything is filed.
- Weeks 2–6
Incorporation and domiciliation
Formation, registered office, directors, bank account and payment pre-clearance.
- Weeks 3–7
Compliance documentation
AML/CFT, KYC, responsible gambling, terms, complaints and ADR, data protection.
- Weeks 5–12
Technical certification
RNG and platform certification, reporting, geo-blocking and data nodes with accredited laboratories.
- Week 6 onward
Filing and regulator dialogue
Submission, deficiency responses, grant — then annual returns, renewals and representation.
Before you file
Five things that sink applications
- Underestimating Romania's floorThe €480,000 minimum authorization fee is due even with no bets. Model GGR before you incorporate.
- Weak source-of-funds evidenceRegulators refuse files where the money behind each shareholder cannot be traced to a lawful source. Document it before you incorporate, not after the deficiency letter.
- Unlicensed suppliersRomania and, since July 2025, Anjouan require every B2B supplier to hold its own authorization.
- Nominee substanceNominee directors do not create economic substance or solve permanent-establishment and CFC exposure.
- Leaving payments to the endBanking and PSP onboarding delay more launches than regulators do. Start them in week one.
Track record
Over 580 licenses obtained in multiple jurisdictions
For game studios, aggregators, platforms, payment providers, affiliates and operators, since 2004.
Alex Szilaghi, founder
More than twenty years in gambling licensing and corporate structuring across EU, UK, Canadian, Latin American and offshore regimes. Leads Romanian ONJN work directly, with the in-house legal and compliance team, and reviews every jurisdiction guide on this site.
Guides
Licensing guides, kept current
Fees, statutes, timelines and document lists, each with its sources and the date we last checked it.
- Romania gambling license: Class 1 and Class 2
- Romania B2B (Class 2) supplier license
- Romania B2C (Class 1) operator license
- Company formation for gambling licenses
- Malta gambling license : costs, tax and procedure
- Curaçao gambling license: CGA costs, substance and procedure
- Anjouan gambling license: cost, requirements and application
- Isle of Man gambling license : costs, duty and procedure
- Ontario online gambling license: AGCO registration and iGO
- Colombia gambling license: the Coljuegos concession
All 22 jurisdictions by region
European Union
Insights
Latest insights
Frequently asked questions
Which gambling license should I choose?
Start from three questions: where your players are, which payment partners you need, and how fast you must be live. Offshore licenses (Anjouan, Nevis, Curaçao) launch fastest; EU and Crown regulators (Malta, Isle of Man, Romania) open tier-one banking; regulated markets (Great Britain, Romania, Ontario) require their own license. The jurisdictions register compares all 22.
How much does a Romanian gambling license cost in 2026?
For suppliers, a Class 2 license costs €35,000 a year with no GGR tax. For online operators, the Class 1 fixed floor is €1,280,000 a year (license fee, 30% GGR authorization fee minimum €480,000 and the responsible-gambling contribution), plus a guarantee. See the Romania guide.
How long does licensing take?
From 2–4 weeks (Anjouan) to 4–6 months (Malta) and 6–9 months for Romania Class 1. A clean Romania Class 2 file takes about 2–3 months.
Do you guarantee that the license will be granted?
No. The decision belongs to the regulator, and no honest adviser can guarantee it. What we control is the file: we screen ownership, funds and fitness before anything is filed, and we tell you if we expect a refusal.
Do you deal with the regulator directly?
Yes. We file, answer deficiency letters and attend meetings on your behalf under a power of attorney. In Romania we also act as your representative before ONJN after grant.
Are you a law firm?
We are a consultancy with in-house Romanian lawyers (avocați) who advise on Romanian law in their professional capacity under Law no. 51/1995. In other jurisdictions we work with licensed local counsel where the law requires it.
Can you help with banking and payment processing?
Yes. We prepare the underwriting file and introduce you to banks, EMIs, acquirers and PSPs that work with your license. No adviser can guarantee approval, but a coherent structure and file makes it far more likely.
What does the first conversation cost?
Nothing. The fit call and the written first read are free. Fees apply only after we agree a defined scope of work.
Start here
Tell us what you are licensing
A written first read within one business day: the license that fits, the year-one cost and the risks. Free, with no call required. Fees apply only once we agree a defined scope.
- Reply from a licensing specialist, not a sales desk
- NDA on request before you share details
- Urgent regulator or bank issue? Same-day acknowledgement
Prefer to talk? +44 7747 224390 · WhatsApp · Telegram
Thank you — your enquiry is with us
We reply within one business day (Monday to Friday, Eastern European Time).