Romania iGaming Licence (ONJN): A Credible, Business-Friendly EU Entry for B2C and B2B

For iGaming companies looking for a regulated European foothold with clear rules, strong oversight, and meaningful commercial upside, the Romania gaming license stands out as a compelling option. Romania is an EU member state, and its gambling market is regulated by the National Gambling Office (ONJN), a framework that has helped build player trust and a reputation for credibility with banks, payment service providers (PSPs), and platform partners.

What makes Romania especially attractive is the combination of two licence tracks (Class 1 for operators and Class 2 for suppliers), a competitive 21% gross gaming revenue (GGR) tax, a market that has been experiencing rapid growth, and a licensing process that can move quickly when documentation is complete (often 30 to 60 days).

Why Romania is on the shortlist for iGaming licensing

Romania has become increasingly popular for iGaming businesses that want a practical balance between opportunity and oversight. The ONJN licensing regime is designed to support a responsible, regulated market, which strengthens consumer confidence and helps compliant brands build long-term value.

Key benefits at a glance

• EU footprint that supports broader European credibility (while still requiring compliance checks for each target country).
• Robust regulation that helps reinforce trust with players and commercial partners.
• Competitive 21% GGR tax compared with many European alternatives.
• Two-track licensing structure for both B2C operators (Class 1) and B2B service providers (Class 2).
• Long licence validity (10-year term) paired with ongoing regulatory obligations.
• Fast turnaround potential of roughly 30 to 60 days when the application is complete and well-prepared.

From a business development perspective, a Romanian licence can also function as a trust signal. Many B2B providers pursue Class 2 licensing specifically to reassure operators, PSPs, and financial institutions that their services are delivered under recognized regulatory oversight.

Romania licence types: Class 1 (B2C) vs Class 2 (B2B)

The ONJN offers two main licence classes aligned to your role in the ecosystem: operating gambling services (B2C) or supplying products and services to licensed operators (B2B). Choosing the right class is the first step toward a smooth application, because the documentation, capital expectations, and operational scope differ.

Class 1 licence (B2C): built for multi-product operators

The Class 1 licence is designed for consumer-facing operators offering games of chance to players in Romania. It can cover multiple product verticals such as casino, lottery, bingo, and poker, though operators are typically expected to seek authorization for each game type they intend to offer.

For ambitious brands, this structure can be a growth advantage: you can align your application and operating model to a multi-vertical strategy, while keeping your compliance posture consistent under one regulator.

Class 2 licence (B2B): a credibility booster for suppliers

The Class 2 licence is aimed at B2B providers and any company that supplies products or services to licensed Romanian gambling operators. This ensures that key suppliers are vetted and approved by the ONJN, which can streamline commercial conversations and reduce friction in procurement and onboarding.

Romania is often described as particularly attractive for B2B licensing because it can support partner confidence across the EEA context. In practical terms, a regulated status can make it easier to demonstrate seriousness, transparency, and operational readiness to third parties.

Tax: Romania’s competitive 21% GGR rate

Romania is frequently viewed as business-friendly in part due to its 21% GGR tax. For many business models, a clear tax framework and predictable regulatory expectations are just as important as the licence fee itself. When planning your market entry, it’s smart to forecast taxation, product mix, and compliance costs together, so your unit economics remain healthy as you scale.

Core licence requirements: what ONJN expects

Romania’s licensing regime is credible because it focuses heavily on suitability, transparency, and operational control. While exact requirements can vary by licence class and business model, applicants should be prepared to demonstrate financial and technical fitness and to operate with strong compliance processes from day one.

Local presence and representation

• Local presence is required, typically including a registered office and local representation.
• Foreign entities can apply, but they generally need a Romanian tax ID and a fiscal representative for compliance.
• The company setup typically includes defining the gambling activities during formation.

Share capital expectations (B2C)

For Class 1 (B2C) applicants, ONJN requirements include minimum share capital expectations often described in the range of approximately €200,000 to €1,000,000. The right level depends on the operating model, product scope, and risk profile, so planning capital early can prevent avoidable delays.

Financial soundness and suitability documentation

Applicants should expect to provide standard corporate and individual documentation along with evidence of:

• Financial soundness (ability to meet obligations and operate responsibly).
• Suitability of owners and key persons.
• A coherent business plan with operational details.

Technical capability and infrastructure

ONJN expects operators and key suppliers to demonstrate technical readiness, including control of systems and a compliant operating environment.

• Servers must be located in Romania or within another EU member state or the European Economic Area (EEA).
• Class 2 (B2B) structures are often described as offering operational flexibility, including that servers do not have to be physically in Romania as long as hosting meets the EU / EEA location requirement.

Ongoing compliance: AML, KYC, reporting, and player protection

Romania’s framework is designed to support an ethical market, so ongoing compliance is not an afterthought. Businesses should be ready for:

• Financial reporting and regulatory reporting obligations.
• Tax compliance and timely payments.
• AML (anti-money laundering) controls and KYC (know your customer) processes.
• Player-protection measures aligned to responsible gambling expectations.
• Maintaining technical and operational standards over time.

This compliance posture is also a commercial advantage: strong controls tend to reduce operational risk, improve brand trust, and support smoother relationships with PSPs and banking partners.

How long does it take? Typical ONJN licence timeline

With complete documentation and a well-prepared application, the Romania iGaming licence process is commonly described as taking around 30 to 60 days. The biggest factor affecting timeline is usually application completeness (corporate documents, policies, technical descriptions, and financial evidence).

For teams that treat licensing as a structured project (rather than a last-minute hurdle), Romania can offer a notably efficient pathway to regulated market entry.

Application workflow: a practical step-by-step path to approval

Although every applicant’s specifics differ, a typical end-to-end workflow often includes the following stages:

1. Consultation: confirm the right licence class (Class 1 or Class 2), target products, and operating footprint.
2. Bespoke fee proposal: map costs and services to your exact model and timeline.
3. Due diligence preparation: compile corporate and individual documentation and address any gaps early.
4. Company setup and bank account opening: establish the local structure and prepare operational foundations.
5. Licence filing: submit the application with business plan, compliance policies, and technical materials.
6. Post-approval operational support: launch planning, compliance calendars, reporting routines, and ongoing governance.

This structured approach is benefit-driven because it reduces rework. A clean application file and a clear operating model tend to speed up regulator review and improve internal readiness for go-live.

Why B2B providers often choose Romania (Class 2)

B2B suppliers live and die by trust. A Class 2 Romanian licence can strengthen a supplier’s position in three high-impact ways:

• Partner confidence: licensed status can reassure operators that your tools, platforms, or services fit a regulated supply chain.
• Third-party credibility: being regulated can support smoother conversations with banks and PSPs that prefer transparent, supervised counterparties.
• EEA context: Romania’s EU membership can enhance perceived legitimacy when expanding commercial relationships across Europe (while still respecting local rules in each jurisdiction).

For many suppliers, the “win” is not just market access. It’s also the ability to position the company as a long-term, compliance-forward partner, which is increasingly important as European enforcement and accountability expectations tighten.

Advertising and promotions: plan your marketing with compliance in mind

Romania imposes stringent rules for gambling advertising, and marketing plans should be designed to comply from the start. Common requirements include:

• No advertising that targets under-18s or portrays minors in gambling contexts.
• Restrictions on television and radio advertising during daytime.
• Limits on physical advertising near sensitive locations such as schools, playgrounds, and churches.
• Responsible gambling warnings in advertising content.
• Restrictions on advertising bonuses and promotions in public media outside the operator’s own channels.

When handled well, compliant marketing becomes a brand strength: it protects reputation, reduces regulatory risk, and supports sustainable customer acquisition.

What success looks like: outcomes you can aim for

A Romanian iGaming licence supports multiple high-value outcomes for both operators and suppliers:

• Faster regulated market entry (often achievable within 30 to 60 days when documentation is complete).
• Long-term stability with a 10-year licence term and a clear compliance framework.
• Improved commercial conversion with partners who prioritize regulated counterparties.
• Scalable operations built around repeatable reporting, AML / KYC processes, and player protection.

In practice, companies that benefit most tend to be those that invest early in governance, documentation quality, and technical clarity. That preparation doesn’t just help achieve approval; it also makes day-to-day operations smoother once you go live.

Romania iGaming licence checklist - a quick start

• Pick your track: Class 1 (B2C) or Class 2 (B2B).
• Confirm corporate setup: local presence, registered office, representation, tax ID (and fiscal representative if needed).
• Prepare capital (especially for B2C): plan for approximately €200k to €1m share capital expectations.
• Build your documentation set: business plan, ownership and key person documents, financial evidence, policies.
• Align infrastructure: ensure server location meets Romania’s Romania or EU / EEA requirement.
• Operationalize compliance: AML / KYC, player protection, reporting, and tax routines.
• Plan marketing compliantly: embed advertising restrictions and RG messaging into campaigns.

Bottom line: a strong option for growth-minded, compliance-forward iGaming businesses

The Romania iGaming licence, regulated by the ONJN, offers a powerful mix of credibility, commercial practicality, and EU-market alignment. With Class 1 and Class 2 paths, a competitive 21% GGR tax, a 10-year term, and a licensing process that can move in 30 to 60 days when prepared correctly, Romania remains a compelling jurisdiction for both operators and B2B suppliers aiming to build durable, trusted iGaming businesses.

If you treat licensing as a growth enabler (not just a box to tick), Romania’s framework rewards preparation with speed, clarity, and the kind of regulated credibility that can unlock long-term partnerships.