Romania Gambling License
cost, requirements & the ONJN procedure
A Romanian ONJN license is the only option on this site that places you, as a regulated operator, inside the European Union. Class 1 applies to B2C operators; Class 2 applies to B2B suppliers; each is valid for ten years. It is also the costliest and most exacting route, and for many operators who contact us about it, the candid answer is that they are not yet prepared. This page starts with the actual figures.
10 years
License validity
ONJN
Oficiul Național pentru Jocuri de Noroc
30%
Authorization tax on GGR
€1.28M
Minimum annual fixed cost, Class 1 online
Romania License – Key Facts
| License Type | B2C and B2B |
| Issuing Authority | ONJN |
| Governing Law | GEO 77/2009 |
| Class 1 License Fee | €300,000 |
| Class 2 License Fee | €20,000 |
| Authorization Tax | 30% of GGR, minimum €480,000/year |
| License Validity | 10 years |
| Financial Guarantee | €2,000,000 online non-casino €5,000,000 online casino |
| Local Substance | Mandatory for B2C |
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Romanian license in ninety seconds
Romania is a member state of the EU, and its licensing framework operates accordingly. ONJN grants two classes. Class 1 is for B2C operators — online casino and slots, sports betting, poker, bingo. Class 2 is for the supply side: software developers, game aggregators, platform providers, payment processors, affiliates, testing laboratories and hosting providers. Both last ten years, and an annual authorization must be renewed on top.
The pricing changed on 1 August 2025, when Law 141/2025 entered into force. The online authorisation tax increased from 21% to 30% of gross gaming revenue, the yearly minimum moved from €400,000 to €480,000, and the former tiered license fee of €15,600 to €312,000 was replaced by a single €300,000 fee. Once the €500,000 responsible gambling contribution is added, a Class 1 online operator is looking at about €1.28 million per year before any wager is settled. That number is the key decision.
Class 2 is altogether different, and this is where much of our Romanian work is concentrated. The license fee is €20,000, the responsible gambling contribution is €15,000, and the issuance and file analysis charges are €10,500 and €3,500 — fixed sums that do not increase with revenue. A supplier licensed in Romania is licensed in the EU, which alters how operators, acquirers and platform partners view the relationship in a way offshore licensing cannot.
Local substance has not been optional since GEO 82/2023. A B2C operator has to be a Romanian SRL or SA, or, if it is an EU, EEA or Swiss entity, it must register a Romanian permanent establishment. There is no scenario in which you obtain a Romanian license through a shell company abroad.
WHO WE ARE
Szilaghi Consulting has been structuring licensed gaming businesses since 2004, and Romania is our home jurisdiction. We set up the Romanian company, prepare the ONJN file, handle liaison with the Supervisory Committee, coordinate the technical audit with accredited laboratories, organize the mirror server and ONJN data feed, and open the corporate bank account. We hold and manage Romanian licenses ourselves, which is not the same as merely writing about them.
We also serve as Romanian representative for foreign licensees, and we will tell you when the figures above show that Romania is not the right fit for your current stage.
We can help you incorporate and secure the Romanian Gambling Licenses
Romania Class 1 or Class 2 licensing begins with the correct structure.
Szilaghi Consulting assists operators, suppliers, affiliates and payment businesses throughout the Romanian ONJN licensing process — from eligibility review and corporate formation to application handling, technical certification, regulator communication and continuing compliance.
Whether you need a Class 1 B2C license or a Class 2 B2B license, we evaluate the structure first so you understand what is needed before you commit substantial time and capital.
What a Romanian license really costs in year one
Two very different businesses fall under one regulator. Use the column that applies to you.
| Class 1 — B2C operator, online | YEAR 1 | YEAR 2 ONWARD | PAID TO |
|---|---|---|---|
| File analysis fee | €3,500 | – | ONJN |
| License issuance fee | €10,500 | – | ONJN |
| Annual license fee | €300,000 | €300,000 | ONJN |
| Authorization tax | 30% of GGR, min. €480,000 | 30% of GGR, min. €480,000 | State Budget |
| Responsible gambling contribution | €500,000 | €500,000 | ONJN |
| Financial guarantee | €2,000,000 non-casino €5,000,000 online casino | Maintained | Secured instrument |
| Minimum paid-up share capital | See the share capital section below | Maintained | The Company |
| Romanian entity incorporation & registered office | Fixed fee | Fixed fee | Szilaghi Consulting |
| Technical audit — accredited laboratory | Per laboratory quote | On material change | Test house |
| Mirror server & ONJN data feed | Per infrastructure quote | Hosting | Provider |
| Policy suite, AML/CFT, RG, self-exclusion integration | Fixed fee | Annual Review | Szilaghi Consulting |
| Application management & ONJN liaison | Fixed fee | Fixed Fee | Szilaghi Consulting |
| Statutory fixed floor, per year | €1,280,000 | €1,280,000 |
| Class 2 — B2B supplier | YEAR 1 | YEAR 2 ONWARD | PAID TO |
|---|---|---|---|
| License issuance fee | €10,500 | – | ONJN |
| Annual license fee | €20,000 | €20,000 | ONJN |
| Responsible gambling contribution | €15,000 | €15,000 | ONJN |
| Romanian entity incorporation & registered office | Fixed fee | Fixed fee | Szilaghi Consulting |
| Software certification & ORDA registration | Fixed fee | On new titles | Szilaghi Consulting / ORDA |
| Policy suite, AML/CFT | Fixed fee | Annual Review | Szilaghi Consulting |
| Application management & ONJN liaison | Fixed fee | Fixed Fee | Szilaghi Consulting |
| Statutory fixed floor, per year | €45,500 | €35,000 |
Government and third-party costs. Last verified: 11 September 2026.
THE €1.28 MILLION FLOOR
The €300,000 license fee, the €500,000 responsible gambling contribution, and the €480,000 minimum authorization tax together make up the floor. These three amounts are due even if you place no bets at all.
Because the authorization tax is 30% of GGR or €480,000, whichever is greater, the minimum remains in force until gross gaming revenue exceeds €1.6 million per year. Under that level, the effective rate is above 30%, and the smaller the turnover, the harsher the effect. The first thing to model is break-even: a Class 1 Romanian license is a commitment to a volume, not merely to a jurisdiction.
WHAT CHANGED ON 1 AUGUST 2025
Law 141/2025 made three changes for online operators. First, the authorization tax rose from 21% to 30% of GGR. Second, the annual minimum increased from €400,000 to €480,000. Third, the tiered annual license fee — which ranged from €15,600 to €312,000 depending on vertical and operator size — became a flat €300,000.
That final adjustment is what transformed the market. A small or mid-sized operator that once paid the lowest tier now pays the same as the largest operators. If a Romanian cost guide still refers to 27% or 21% GGR, or gives a license fee range instead of €300,000, it predates August 2025 and has not been updated since. Several 2026-dated guides that still rank well are in exactly that state.
ONJN, and the two license classes
Oficiul Național pentru Jocuri de Noroc (ONJN) serves as Romania’s national gambling authority, created pursuant to GEO 20/2013. It grants licenses, permits, oversight, and penalties. Its Supervisory Committee decides on license applications.
The legal hierarchy, in the sequence that is relevant:
| Instrument | What it does |
|---|---|
| GEO 77/2009 | The main gambling law |
| Law 124/2015 | Approved and amended GEO 77/2009 |
| Government Decision 111/2016 | The methodological norms — the practical detail on capital, paperwork and process |
| GEO 82/2023 | Mandatory Romanian establishment for operators; tax reform |
| Law 107/2024 | Further amendments |
| Law 141/2025 | 30% GGR authorization tax, €480,000 minimum, €300,000 flat license fee. Effective 1 August 2025 |
| Law 129/2019 | AML/CFT framework |
| Order 79/2025 | National self-exclusion registry procedure |
LICENSE CLASS 1
B2C operator — €300,000 a year
This category covers the direct provision of games to players: online casino and slots, sports betting, poker, bingo. The license lasts ten years, with annual authorization. It includes the complete set of obligations — 30% authorization tax on GGR with the €480,000 floor, the €500,000 responsible gambling contribution, the financial guarantee of €2,000,000 or €5,000,000 depending on vertical, the Romanian entity or permanent establishment, the mirror server, the ONJN data feed, self-exclusion registry integration, and the full AML/CFT programme under Law 129/2019.
LICENSE CLASS 2
B2B supplier — €20,000 a year
This applies to the supply chain serving licensed operators. The license is for ten years, with annual payments, and the fees are fixed rather than tied to revenue. Who needs a Class 2 license. Many operators only realize this at a late stage, and their supplier often learns even later:
| Game developers and content studios | Yes | Platform and turnkey providers | Yes |
| Game aggregators | Yes | Payment processors and PSPs | Yes |
| Affiliate | Yes | Testing laboratories | Yes |
| Hosting and platform hosts | Yes | Live casino studios | Yes |
Affiliates are the most commonly overlooked group. In Romania, affiliate activity falls under Class 2. If an affiliate sends Romanian traffic to a licensed operator without a Class 2 license, that affiliate is operating without authorization, and the operator receiving that traffic has a compliance issue as well.
| Class 1 (B2C) | Class 2 (B2B) | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual license fee | €300,000 | €20,000 |
| Authorization tax | 30% GGR, min €480,000 | – |
| RG contribution | €500,000 | €15,000 |
| Financial guarantee | €2m / €5m | – |
| Validity | 10 years | 10 years |
| Annual fixed floor | ~€1,280,000 | €35,000 |
| Typical time to license | 6–9 months end to end | 2–3 months |
GEO 82/2023 and what it actually requires
⚠ YOU CANNOT HOLD A ROMANIAN B2C LICENSE FROM ABROAD
Since GEO 82/2023, a B2C operator must either form a Romanian legal entity — an SRL or an SA — or, if incorporated in the EU, the EEA or Switzerland, register a Romanian permanent establishment. There is no alternative third path. If applicants have not dealt with this before filing, the application is not corrected during review; it is sent back.
SRL or SA
The SRL (societate cu răspundere limitată) is the standard choice. It is quicker to set up, easier to govern, less burdensome administratively, and sufficient for the vast majority of Class 1 and Class 2 applicants.
The SA (societate pe acțiuni) is appropriate where the ownership structure is intricate, where investors are expected, or where a future share transfer would be awkward under an SRL’s transfer rules, or where internal group policy requires a joint-stock structure. It comes with greater governance demands — board, censors or auditor, and stricter formalities.
Unless the shareholder or investment structure points elsewhere, we usually recommend the SRL, and we will indicate which option on the call. See Romania company formation.
Permanent establishment for EU/EEA/Swiss entities
An entity from the EU, EEA or Switzerland may opt for a Romanian permanent establishment instead of incorporating a subsidiary. That approach preserves the existing corporate setup and can be suitable for a group already active in multiple member states. It also brings Romanian tax registration, Romanian accounting duties and a Romanian fiscal representative, and the PE must be real — registered, adequately resourced, and able to perform the functions assigned to it.
Share capital
Read this part carefully, because the public sources conflict.
Under Government Decision 111/2016, Romanian gambling share capital is defined by the methodological norms, and the rule is cumulative according to licensed activity rather than a single flat amount — an operator licensed across several verticals must satisfy a higher minimum than one licensed for only one vertical.
That is why competitor sites show four different figures. One current ranking guide says RON 8,500,000 for Class 1 and RON 1,562,500 for Class 2. Another gives RON 1,000,000. A third lists RON 5,000,000. Each is presenting one number for a requirement that is not a single number, and at least two seem to be mixing up the share capital minimum with the financial guarantee.
Article 14 of GEO 77/2009 puts license fees, authorization fees and the minimum subscribed and paid-up share capital in the Annex to the ordinance, and the Annex sets a separate amount per game type. Here is the schedule, as restated by GEO 82/2023:
| Licensed activity | Minimum paid-up share capital | Indicative EUR |
|---|---|---|
| Lottery games (loto) | RON 2,000,000 | ~€380,000 |
| Remote gambling (online) | RON 1,000,000 | ~€190,000 |
| Fixed-odds betting | RON 1,000,000 | ~€190,000 |
| Mutual betting | RON 1,000,000 | ~€190,000 |
| Mutual betting | RON 1,000,000 | ~€190,000 |
| Casino games | RON 1,000,000 | ~€190,000 |
| Bingo through television networks | RON 1,000,000 | ~€190,000 |
| Temporary games | RON 1,000,000 | ~€190,000 |
| Bingo in gaming halls | RON 100,000 | ~€19,000 |
| Poker festivals | RON 100,000 | ~€19,000 |
| Poker clubs | RON 100,000 | ~€19,000 |
| Traditional tombola | RON 100,000 | ~€19,000 |
| Slot-machine games | RON 30,000 | ~€5,700 |
We verify the precise cumulative requirement for your exact vertical mix during pre-screening, before you commit to any capitalization. This is the figure most often misstated in an initial dossier, and if it is wrong, you will have to recapitalize mid-application.
Financial guarantee
This is separate from share capital, and it is often mistaken for it. The guarantee secures your obligations to the state budget:
- €2,000,000 — online, non-casino
- €5,000,000 — online casino
What we create together with the license
A Romanian license is, first and foremost, a corporate undertaking with a regulatory layer attached — not the reverse. Six workstreams progress at the same time.
The Romanian Entity
Incorporation of an SRL or SA, or registration of a permanent establishment, with share capital arranged to satisfy the cumulative threshold for the relevant vertical set.
Local Directorship and Representation
Romanian-resident directorship where the structure requires it, fiscal representation, and an ONJN-facing contact able to handle requests for regulatory clarification.
Szilaghi may provide the necessary local representation roles directly for clients, instead of routing the relationship through an unrelated subcontractor.
Technical Certification
Coordination with accredited testing laboratories — including BMM, GLI and other ONJN-recognised laboratories — for the technical certification work required by the project.
Certification and testing of random-number generation where applicable.
Technical review of games and gaming content included within the licensed operation.
Technical testing and documentation of the operator platform and supporting systems.
Where relevant, internally developed software should have its intellectual-property position documented, including applicable ORDA registrations.
Mirror Server and the ONJN Data Feed
Online operators need the Romanian infrastructure and reporting architecture required for recording licensed activity and transmitting the relevant data to ONJN systems.
Policy and AML
The operating framework must translate regulatory requirements into policies, procedures, controls and player-facing processes that can actually be implemented.
Framework under Law 129/2019 and related requirements.
Player verification, risk classification and monitoring.
Internal controls and integration with applicable self-exclusion requirements.
Marketing workflows designed around Romanian gambling advertising restrictions.
Terms, complaints processes and operational policies aligned with the licensed model.
Banking and EMI
Once the corporate, regulatory and compliance structure is coherent, the banking and payments workstream can be presented as a documented, reviewable file rather than an unexplained gaming risk.
Prepare the file the institution actually reviews
- Corporate structure chart
- Ultimate beneficial ownership
- Source-of-wealth and source-of-funds evidence
- Projected transaction flows
- Licensing documentation
- Operating and compliance model
These layers should not be treated as separate procurement exercises. Corporate structuring can affect licensing, technical design can affect regulatory reporting, and both directly affect whether banks and payment institutions can approve the file.
WHY OPERATORS TAKE ROMANIA ANYWAY
At €1.28 million per year, the Class 1 license only works at volume. Its real value is that it places a European Union regulator on your file. Acquirers, EMIs, tier-one platform partners, and payment networks treat an EU-supervised licensee differently from an offshore one, and no structuring can move an Anjouan or Curaçao licensee to the same position.
Also note what it does not provide: an ONJN license is not an EU passport. It authorizes activity in Romania only. Every other member state needs its own license. Anyone who says otherwise is trying to sell you something.
Pre-screening to Supervisory Committee, weeks 1 to 12
A clean Class 2 file can reach a decision in 2–3 months. Class 1 takes longer overall — plan on six to nine months from start to go-live, because the technical audit, the mirror server, and the guarantee instrument all carry lead times outside ONJN’s review clock. The twelve weeks below cover the route to a decided application.
Weeks 1-2
Pre-screening and structuring
The vertical set is confirmed, and with it the cumulative share capital requirement. The entity route is chosen: SRL, SA, or permanent establishment. Every shareholder, director, and ultimate beneficial owner is fit-and-proper screened before filing anything — ONJN’s fit-and-proper review is the most frequent failure point, and it can be identified in advance. The financial guarantee instrument is scoped with the issuing bank. The technical audit and mirror server are defined and priced.
Weeks 3-5
Incorporation and capitalization
The Romanian entity is incorporated at ONRC, or the permanent establishment is registered. Share capital is paid to the cumulative minimum and evidenced. Registered office, statutory books, and tax registration are completed. A bank account is opened. Directorship and fiscal representation are appointed.
Weeks 5-8
Dossier assembly
Corporate documents, fit-and-proper files, evidence of financial soundness, the technical file from the accredited laboratory, mirror server configuration, the AML/CFT and responsible gambling policy package, self-exclusion registry integration, player terms, and the advertising compliance position are assembled. Where applicable, software is registered with ORDA.
Weeks 8-9
Submission and analysis fee
The full dossier is filed with ONJN. On submission, the €3,500 file analysis fee (Class 1 only) and the €10,500 license issuance fee (Class 2) are paid. By this stage, Class 2 applicants are usually within two months of filing.
Weeks 9-11
Clarification cycle
ONJN issues requests for information. This is the stage where time is gained or lost: replying within the same week keeps the file inside the statutory review period, while a two-week delay on each round adds a month. We manage the correspondence directly in Romanian.
Week 12
Supervisory Committee decision and issuance
The Supervisory Committee reaches its decision. On grant, the €10,500 license issuance fee is paid. The license is valid for ten years. The annual authorization and authorization tax then commence, and Class 1 operators go live once the mirror server and ONJN data feed are confirmed.
Dossier and due diligence checklist
Each document must be in Romanian or accompanied by a certified translation, certified in ink, and dated within 90 days where the document type permits. The Authority may request additional documents at any time; incomplete filings lead to delay or refusal.
FILE / 01 KYC & UBO documentation
Each director, shareholder, UBO and Key Person:
- Identity documents, certified
- Proof of address
- Criminal record certificate from every jurisdiction of residence in the relevant period
- Fiscal record certificate
- Curriculum vitae with sector experience
- Banker’s and professional references
- Source of funds and source of wealth, with supporting evidence
- Sworn declarations in the ONJN form
FILE / 02 Corporate file
- Certificate of incorporation and constitutive act for the Romanian SRL or SA, or permanent establishment registration
- Evidence of paid-up share capital at the cumulative minimum for your vertical set
- Register of shareholders and directors
- Full ownership chain to the ultimate beneficial owner, including any nominee, trust or foundation
- Group structure chart
- Registered office documentation
- Tax registration certificate
FILE / 03 Financial
- Audited financial statements for the group where available
- Evidence of financial soundness proportionate to the proposed operation
- Financial guarantee instrument — €2,000,000 or €5,000,000 for online Class 1
- Business plan with projections reconciled to the source-of-funds evidence
- Proof of payment of the €3,500 file analysis fee
FILE / 04 Technical & operational
- Certification from an ONJN-accredited testing laboratory — RNG, game and platform certification
- Technical description of the gaming system
- Mirror and safe server configuration, located in Romania, with the ONJN data connection specified
- Game list with certification references for each title
- Supplier list with each supplier’s Class 2 license reference
- ORDA registration for proprietary software
- Domain and platform documentation
FILE / 05 Compliance and player protection
- AML/CFT programme under Law 129/2019, with the designated officer named
- KYC and customer due diligence procedures
- Responsible gambling policy
- National self-exclusion registry integration per Order 79/2025
- Advertising compliance position
- Player terms and conditions
- Complaint handling procedure
- Domain and platform documentation
FIT AND PROPER IS WHERE FILES DIE
Not capital. Not technology. The most common reason for refusal or a drawn-out review is a fit-and-proper issue somewhere in the ownership chain that the applicant already knew about but did not disclose, or a source-of-funds story that fails to reconcile with the business plan. Both can be identified in pre-screening. We perform that screen in Week 1 and decline mandates when it reveals a problem, because a refused ONJN application becomes part of the record and a second filing is judged against the first.
Romania vs Malta vs Isle of Man vs Curaçao vs Anjouan
| Jurisdiction | Romania | Malta | Isle of Man | Curacao | Anjouan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| REGULATOR | ONJN | MGA | GSC | CGA | AOFA / ALSI |
| EU MARKET REACH | Romania only — EU-supervised, not passported | EU-supervised; each member state still licenses separately | Non-EU | Non-EU | Non-EU |
| ANNUAL GOV. COST | ~€1,280,000 Class 1 online · €35,000 Class 2 | €25,000 + compliance contribution €15,000 – €600,000 | £36,750 | €47,450 | €17,828 |
| TAX ON GGR | 30%, min €480,000 | 5-15% on Malta-sourced GGR | 0.1–1.5% duty on GGY | 0% international GGR; 2% E-Zone profit tax | 0% |
| APPROVAL TIME | 6–9 months Class 1 2–3 months Class 2 | 4–6 months | 10–12 weeks | 3–5 months | 2–4 weeks |
| LOCAL SUBSTANCE | Romanian SRL/SA or PE mirror server in Romania | Maltese company · key function holders · system audit | Two local resident directors · real office | Statutory seat · local MD · office · MLRO · key person by 1 Apr 2027 | None |
| CREDIBILITY | EU member state regulator | Highest recognition | Tier-one banking | Broad processing acceptance | Entry Level |
Where Romania sits: This is the only line here where oversight comes straight from an EU member state. That is what the €1.28 million Class 1 floor costs. In terms of reputation, Malta is the nearest analogue; its opening cost is lower, but the compliance contribution can rise and the timetable is longer.
In 2026, the key Romanian angle is Class 2. With a fixed statutory outlay of €35,000 per year, no authorization tax, and no guarantee fund, an EU supplier license becomes available to a game studio, aggregator, or payment provider at a tiny fraction of the price of a B2C license. Even so, it still brings most of the credibility advantage that such businesses need when speaking with operators and acquirers. If a studio weighs Romania Class 2 against an Anjouan B2B Recognition Certificate of about ~€9,500, it is not comparing like with like; these are different products, not merely different price tags.
For a B2C operator that is still validating its product, Romania is not the right first move. That first step is better served by Anjouan or Curaçao. Romania makes more sense as the second step, once turnover can support the floor.
Alex Szilaghi · Founder, Szilaghi Consulting
With more than twenty years in gambling licensing and corporate structuring across offshore and EU jurisdictions, including Romanian ONJN Class 1 and Class 2 licensing, and based in Romania while practicing before ONJN. Szilaghi Consulting holds Romanian licenses, serves as Romanian representative for foreign licensees, and advises operators and B2B suppliers on ONJN Class 1 and Class 2 licensing, corporate structuring, technical certification, and ongoing compliance — as well as Curaçao, Malta, Nevis, and Anjouan engagements.
Updated in line with GEO 77/2009 as amended through Law 141/2025, Government Decision 111/2016, and current ONJN practice. Last reviewed September 2026. Statutory fees and thresholds can change; verify before proceeding. For general information only, not legal advice.
Romanian gambling license: frequently asked questions
For Class 1 online B2C, the statutory floor is roughly €1,280,000 annually: €300,000 annual license fee, €500,000 responsible gambling contribution, and the €480,000 minimum authorization tax. In year one, add €3,500 for file analysis and €10,500 for issuance, plus a €2,000,000 or €5,000,000 financial guarantee. For Class 2 B2B, the annual cost is €20,000 license fee plus €15,000 responsible gambling contribution, with €10,500 issuance and €3,500 analysis in year one — €49,000 in year one and €35,000 after that, with none of it tied to revenue growth.
Since 1 August 2025, Law 141/2025 has set the online authorization tax at 30% of gross gaming revenue, with a yearly minimum of €480,000. This replaced the earlier 21% rate and €400,000 floor. Corporate income tax remains 16% on top of that. Since the minimum applies until GGR exceeds about €1.6 million, operators with low volume end up with an effective burden above 30%.
Class 2 in two to three months on a clean file. Class 1 in six to nine months end to end — the twelve-week path to a Supervisory Committee decision is realistic, but the technical audit, the mirror server build and the guarantee instrument run on their own clocks outside ONJN’s review. The clarification cycle is the variable you control: same-week responses keep a file inside the review period.
Not for B2C directly. Under GEO 82/2023, a B2C operator must be either a Romanian SRL or SA, or, if it is an EU, EEA, or Swiss entity, it must register a Romanian permanent establishment. Using a permanent establishment keeps the wider group structure intact, but it also brings Romanian tax registration, accounting, and fiscal representation, and the establishment must be real.
Class 1 permits the offering of games to players — online casino, slots, betting, poker, and bingo. Class 2 allows the supply of licensed operators. Each runs for ten years and requires annual authorization. The financial difference is substantial: Class 1 includes the 30% authorization tax, the €480,000 minimum, the €500,000 responsible gambling contribution, and a guarantee fund. Class 2 includes none of those. That is €1.28 million per year versus €35,000.
Yes, all three fall under Class 2. The same is true for aggregators, platform and turnkey providers, hosting providers, live casino studios, and testing laboratories. Affiliates are the most commonly overlooked group: if an affiliate sends Romanian traffic to a licensed operator without Class 2, it is unlicensed, and the operator that takes that traffic inherits a compliance issue. Before the next ONJN inspection catches it, compare your supplier and affiliate roster with the Class 2 table above.
There is no single number, which is why different published answers conflict. Under Government Decision 111/2016, the rule is cumulative by licensed activity — the more verticals, the higher the minimum. Current guides variously cite RON 8,500,000, RON 5,000,000, and RON 1,000,000 per vertical, while some seem instead to be quoting the financial guarantee. We determine the exact cumulative amount for your vertical mix at pre-screening, before capitalization.
No. It is valid in Romania only. There is no EU gambling passport; every member state issues its own license. What an ONJN license does provide outside Romania is oversight by an EU member state regulator, which can affect how acquirers, EMIs, and tier-one partners view you. That is a commercial advantage, not a licensing passport.
Yes, for online operations. A mirror and safe server must be located in Romania, log all transactions, and connect directly to ONJN’s monitoring systems. Because procurement and configuration take time, this belongs in Week 1 of the project, not Week 10.
The €3,500 analysis fee is not refunded, and the refusal stays on record — a later application is judged in light of the earlier one. The main reasons are usually an undisclosed fit-and-proper issue somewhere in the ownership chain, or a source-of-funds story that does not match the business plan. Both can be identified during pre-screening, which is why we do that review before drafting anything.
For Class 1, Malta is less expensive upfront — €25,000 annually plus a scaling compliance contribution, and 5% on Malta-sourced GGR — and it has the strongest recognition of any EU regime. Romania justifies its €1.28 million floor when Romania is itself a target market, or when a Romanian corporate footprint benefits the wider group. For Class 2, Romania is often the stronger choice: fixed cost, no revenue-based tax, EU supervision, and a two-to-three month path.
Yes; that is the usual sequence, and it is the right one. Start by proving the product on Anjouan or Curaçao, then add Romania once volume clears the authorization-tax threshold, or move to Romania Class 2 earlier if you are a supplier and your operator clients want EU credibility. We handle both stages.
Public Sources
Public sources were checked on 27 September 2026. For Romanian gambling regulation, the main references should be the consolidated legislation on Romania’s official Legislative Portal together with ONJN’s public materials. If the framework has been amended, use the current consolidated version rather than the wording of the original act alone. This overview separates Class 1 operator licensing from Class 2 B2B licensing and is not a replacement for project-specific legal, tax, technical, or licensing advice.
- Romanian Legislative Portal: Emergency Ordinance no. 77/2009 on the organization and operation of gambling — the core statutory framework governing gambling activities in Romania, including licensing and authorization requirements.
- Romanian Legislative Portal: Government Decision no. 111/2016 — the methodological rules implementing Emergency Ordinance no. 77/2009, including procedural and operational requirements applicable to gambling activities.
- ONJN Public Register: Class 1 and Class 2 operator categories — ONJN’s public description of Class 1 licenses for principal gambling organizers operating B2C and Class 2 licenses for legal entities carrying out gambling-related activities and support services.
- Romanian Legislative Portal: Law no. 129/2019 on the prevention and combating of money laundering and terrorist financing — Romania’s AML/CFT framework, including ONJN’s supervisory role in relation to gambling-sector reporting entities.
- Romanian Legislative Portal: current provisions of Law no. 129/2019 concerning authorization and fit-and-proper requirements — includes requirements concerning persons holding management positions and beneficial owners of regulated entities.
- Romanian Legislative Portal: ONJN Order no. 79/2025 — establishes the procedure for gambling self-exclusion requests, withdrawal of consent related to self-exclusion processing, and operator access to the national self-exclusion database under article 15¹ of Emergency Ordinance no. 77/2009.
- Romanian Legislative Portal: consolidated gambling implementing rules under Government Decision no. 111/2016 — relevant to application documentation, technical and operational requirements, licensing procedures and continuing obligations.
- Romanian Legislative Portal: Emergency Ordinance no. 77/2009 — consolidated legal framework — also sets the distinction between the gambling organization license and the separate authorization to operate gambling activities, both of which are time-limited regulatory instruments.
- Romanian Legislative Portal: Law no. 129/2019 — definition and treatment of gambling services — identifies gambling services within the Romanian AML framework and confirms their relationship with ONJN licensing.
- Romanian Legislative Portal: ONJN Order no. 79/2025, official publication details — published in the Official Gazette no. 557 of 17 June 2025 and applicable to ONJN, gambling organizers and individuals using the self-exclusion procedure.
Find out what Romania actually costs you before you commit to €1.28 million a year
Most of the value we add on Romanian mandates happens before anything is filed. The vertical set fixes the cumulative share capital. The fit-and-proper screen on every shareholder and beneficial owner decides whether the application survives. The break-even model against the €480,000 authorisation tax minimum decides whether Class 1 is the right instrument at all, or whether Class 2 — or a jurisdiction that is not Romania — gets you further this year.
We do that work first, then incorporate, build the dossier, coordinate the laboratory and the mirror server, and hold the ONJN liaison through the Supervisory Committee. Afterwards we run the annual authorisation, the reporting and the representation.
Have a project you would like to talk about? → Let's Talk
For another jurisdiction, review our Curacao licensing service or Romanian ONJN licensing overview.
