February 2025

The Romanian gambling market has faced numerous challenges during the past years, with an increasing trend of legislative inflation affecting the industry from various (and, in some cases, unexpected) angles.

Overall, several advantages support the conclusion that Romania is still a go-to jurisdiction for gambling companies. As highlights:

• Romania has one of the highest ratios of slot machines/1,000 inhabitants from all European countries.
• The legislation specifically allows land-based operators to act as payment processors for online operators so players can deposit/withdraw funds into/from the online account via the gaming halls. This specific structure allowed by the law permits a smooth migration of players to the online field.
• Several renowned international brands are blacklisted in Romania (and may continue to appear on the blacklist for several more years), so there is a considerable market opportunity from this perspective.

Against this background, members of our Gaming & Gambling Regulatory Law practice group authored a detailed country-specific Q&A that provides an overview of gambling laws and regulations applicable in Romania.

The aim of this guide, part of an extensive initiative coordinated by Legal 500 – Country Comparative Guides, is to provide its readers with a pragmatic overview of the law and practice of gambling across a variety of jurisdictions, with its current edition covering 21 countries. Each chapter of this guide provides information about the current issues affecting gambling law in a particular country and addresses topics such as legal definitions, regulatory bodies, licenses, advertising, and tax rates as well as personal insight and opinion as to the future of the gaming market over the next five years.

Specifically, the overview is designed to provide a view on:

• What is the legal definition of gambling?
• What legislation applies to gambling? Please provide a summary of the legal/regulatory framework
• Which body/ies regulate gambling?
• Are licenses available? If so: a) What is the duration of a license? b) What types of licenses are available? c) Are there different types of licences for B2C and B2B operators? d) Do software suppliers need to be licensed?
• Are any types of gambling products prohibited?
• What is the headline application procedure?
• Is advertising of gambling permitted and, if permitted, how is it regulated?
• What are the penalties for offering, facilitating or marketing unlawful gambling, and can the gambler be penalized for participating in unlawful gambling?
• Are marketing affiliates permitted? If so, are they licensed or regulated?
• Key requirements for licensees
• Detail key responsible gambling (or safer gambling) requirements.
• Key anti-money laundering requirements.
• Detail shareholder reporting and approval threshold(s)
• What is the tax rate applicable to the gambling industry in Romania?
• Are there any proposals for changing gambling laws and regulations in the next 12-24 months? If so, please provide an overview of the proposed changes and likely timing.
• What key regulatory developments are proposed or on the horizon in the next 12-24 months?

Ana-Maria Baciu and Andrei Cosma authored the chapter on Romania, which is available for download HERE. The information is valid as of October 2024.

Compilations across jurisdictions of interest and/or on relevant sections are available on the dedicated platform, HERE.

Details about our award-winning Gaming & Gambling Regulatory practice are available HERE.