The Romania gaming licence application process runs through ONJN (Oficiul National pentru Jocuri de Noroc), Romania’s national gambling regulator. Romania operates a closed licensing regime: operators cannot legally accept Romanian players under a foreign licence. An MGA licence, a Curacao licence, or any other non-ONJN authorisation does not grant access to the Romanian market. You must obtain a Class I licence from ONJN before targeting Romanian residents.
This guide covers every stage of the process, from corporate setup to final approval, along with documents, financial thresholds, and the most common reasons for rejection.
Who qualifies for a Romania gaming licence
ONJN issues Class I licences to companies incorporated in Romania, an EU member state, an EEA country, or Switzerland. Foreign companies outside these jurisdictions must first establish a subsidiary in Romania or another EU country before applying.
Additional eligibility requirements:
- A permanent establishment in Romania for tax purposes
- No previous gambling licence revocation by any regulator
- No criminal convictions for directors or shareholders holding 10% or more ownership
- Clean financial standing with no unresolved tax debts to the Romanian state
Class I and Class II licences: the difference
Romania uses a two-tier licensing structure.
Class I covers B2C operators: companies offering online casino, sports betting, poker, bingo, or lottery games to Romanian players. Holders of a Class I licence must obtain an annual authorisation from ONJN before operating in each calendar year.
Class II covers B2B providers: software developers, platform operators, payment processors, live casino streaming companies, hosting providers, and certification laboratories. If your company supplies services to Class I operators in Romania, a Class II licence applies.
| Class I | Class II | |
| Operator type | B2C (direct to player) | B2B (supplier / provider) |
| Licence validity | 10 years | 10 years |
| Annual authorisation | Required each year | Not required |
| Software certification | Required before application | N/A |
| Financial guarantee | EUR 2M to EUR 5M | Not required |
Romania gaming licence application process prerequisites
Before you submit an application to ONJN, four conditions must be in place.
Corporate entity
ONJN requires a Romanian or EU legal entity. If you currently operate through a non-EU holding structure, you must incorporate a subsidiary or establish a Romanian branch. Our gaming company incorporation service covers this step for iGaming operators.
Software certification
Your platform, games, and RNG must receive certification from a Class II-licensed testing laboratory approved in Romania. Without this, ONJN will reject any application without a valid certification report. In addition, the certification covers the specific game categories you intend to offer.
Player fund account
You must open a dedicated bank account with a Romanian bank. In addition, player deposits must remain separate from operating funds. Therefore, proof of this arrangement is required in the application file.
Registered office and local representative for a Romania gaming licence
ONJN requires a physical registered office in Romania. If your company is incorporated outside Romania, you must appoint a local representative authorised to correspond with the regulator on your behalf.
The Romania gaming licence application process, step by step
The Romania gaming licence application process runs in seven stages. ONJN’s statutory review period after receiving a complete application is 30 days. Total time from the start of preparation to licence issuance is typically 4 to 6 months, because corporate setup, software certification, and document preparation all precede the formal submission.
- Incorporate or confirm the legal entity. Establish your Romanian or EU company. Register a Romanian branch if needed. Appoint a local representative.
- Open a Romanian player fund account. Select a Romanian bank and open a segregated account for player deposits.
- Obtain software certification. Engage a Class II-approved testing laboratory. Allow 4 to 8 weeks for full platform and game certification.
- Prepare the document file. Gather corporate documents, financial statements, personal declarations for each director and major shareholder, and compliance policies. See the documents section below for the full list.
- Pay the analysis fee. Transfer EUR 3,500 to ONJN before submitting the application.
- Submit the application to ONJN. File the complete document package with the official forms ONJN publishes on its website at onjn.gov.ro. ONJN’s 30-day review period begins from the date it confirms receipt of a complete file.
- Receive the licence and pay the issuance fee. If ONJN approves the application, pay the EUR 10,500 licence issuance fee. The licence is valid for 10 years. Before operating in each subsequent year, obtain the annual authorisation from ONJN and pay the annual authorisation tax.
Documents required for a Romania gaming licence
The checklist below covers standard Class I remote gambling applications. However, ONJN may request additional documents depending on your corporate structure.
Corporate documents
- Certificate of incorporation (notarised and apostilled if issued outside Romania)
- Articles of association
- Proof of registered office in Romania
- Shareholder register with complete ownership structure, including ultimate beneficial owners
- Good standing certificate (must be issued within 3 months of submission)
Financial documents
- Audited financial statements for the last 2 financial years
- Evidence of minimum share capital
- Bank statement for the player fund segregation account
- Source of funds declaration for all shareholders with 10% or more ownership
- Financial guarantee documentation: EUR 2,000,000 for online gambling excluding casino; EUR 5,000,000 for online casino
Technical documents
- Software certification report from a Class II-approved laboratory
- Technical description of the platform, RNG, and game types offered
- Security policy and data protection procedures
Compliance documents
- AML policy and KYC procedures referencing Romanian legislation
- Responsible gambling procedures
- Problem gambling self-exclusion mechanism documentation
- GDPR data processing agreements
Personal documents (for each director and 10%+ shareholder)
- Valid identity document
- Criminal record certificate (issued within 3 months of submission)
- Professional experience declaration
- Personal source of funds declaration
For a full compliance preparation checklist applicable across jurisdictions, see our gaming licence compliance checklist.
Financial requirements and guarantees
The financial guarantee is separate from the licence fees. In addition, ONJN requires it as a security instrument covering potential player fund defaults.
| Activity | Financial guarantee required |
| Online gambling (excluding casino) | EUR 2,000,000 |
| Online casino | EUR 5,000,000 |
The guarantee must come from a Romanian bank or a bank incorporated in an EU/EEA member state with a branch in Romania. In addition, it remains in force for the duration of the licence.
Direct ONJN fees:
| Fee | Amount |
| Documentation analysis fee | EUR 3,500 |
| Licence issuance fee | EUR 10,500 |
| Annual authorisation tax | EUR 90,000 to 115,000 (approx.) |
These figures cover ONJN fees only. Software certification typically costs EUR 15,000 to 50,000 depending on scope and the number of game types. Legal representation, corporate setup, and ongoing compliance staffing add to the total. For a complete cost breakdown, see our article on Romania gaming licence costs for 2026.
Romania gaming licence application process timeline and approval stages
| Stage | Estimated duration |
| Corporate setup and account opening | 4 to 8 weeks |
| Software certification | 4 to 8 weeks |
| Document preparation | 2 to 4 weeks |
| ONJN review (complete file) | 30 days (statutory) |
| Total (realistic) | 4 to 6 months |
The 30-day statutory review period begins only after ONJN confirms receipt of a complete file. If ONJN issues a clarification request, the clock stops until the operator responds. First-time applicants regularly receive clarification requests. Total time from submission to final approval is often 60 to 90 days rather than 30.
ONJN does not offer a fast-track service. Therefore, preparation quality directly affects how quickly the Romania gaming licence application process moves once you submit.
What a Romania Class I licence does not cover
A Class I licence covers online gambling operations targeting Romanian residents. It does not:
- Grant access to any other EU or international market. Each jurisdiction requires its own regulatory authorisation.
- Replace the annual authorisation obligation. The 10-year licence is the base authorisation. Operators must still obtain and pay for annual authorisation every year.
- Cover retail or land-based gambling. Class I applies to remote gambling only.
- Exempt the operator from Romanian tax law. Corporate tax at 16% applies, along with a gaming tax on gross gaming revenue. The GGR tax rate varies by game category.
The European Commission’s framework on online gambling services confirms that EU member states regulate gambling independently. No mutual recognition of licences exists between Romania and any other EU jurisdiction.
For compliance support after approval, our online gaming licensing compliance service covers ongoing AML reporting, annual authorisation renewals, and regulatory correspondence with ONJN.
Common reasons ONJN rejects or delays applications
- Incomplete corporate documentation. Missing apostilles, outdated good standing certificates, and incomplete beneficial ownership disclosures are the most frequent causes of delay.
- Software certification gaps. If the certification report does not cover every game category in the application, ONJN will not approve those categories.
- Insufficient financial guarantee format. The guarantee instrument must meet ONJN’s specific format requirements. A standard bank letter of credit may not satisfy them.
- AML policy deficiencies. Generic template AML policies do not pass ONJN review. The policy must reference Government Emergency Ordinance no. 77/2009 and its amendments.
- Stale personal documents. Criminal record certificates must be current within 3 months of submission. Certificates issued earlier will not be accepted.
- Undisclosed beneficial owners. If the ownership chain includes trusts, nominees, or complex holding structures, ONJN requires full disclosure at each level.
Our gaming licence acquisition service includes a pre-submission document review to identify gaps before the file reaches ONJN.
Romania gaming licence application process FAQ
What is the Romania gaming licence application process?
The Romania gaming licence application process runs through ONJN (Oficiul National pentru Jocuri de Noroc). To apply, operators need a Romanian or EU corporate entity, certified gambling software, a segregated player fund bank account, and a financial guarantee of EUR 2M to EUR 5M. After submission, ONJN has a statutory 30-day review period from receipt of a complete application file. However, total preparation and approval typically takes 4 to 6 months.
Can a company outside the EU apply for a Romania gaming licence?
No. ONJN accepts applications from companies incorporated in Romania, an EU member state, an EEA country, or Switzerland only. Non-EU operators must first establish a subsidiary or branch in an EU country before applying.
Does a Malta MGA licence allow operators to accept Romanian players?
No. Romania requires a separate ONJN Class I licence to accept Romanian players. Therefore, an MGA licence does not grant market access in Romania.
How long does the Romania gaming licence application process take?
The statutory review period is 30 days from submission of a complete application to ONJN. In practice, software certification, corporate setup, and document preparation add 2 to 4 months before submission. Total time from start to licence issuance is typically 4 to 6 months.
What financial guarantee does ONJN require?
ONJN requires a financial guarantee of EUR 2,000,000 for online gambling operations excluding casino, and EUR 5,000,000 for online casino. In addition, the guarantee must come from a Romanian bank or an EU/EEA bank with a Romanian branch.
What are the ONJN application fees?
The documentation analysis fee is EUR 3,500, paid before submission. The licence issuance fee is EUR 10,500, paid after approval. Annual authorisation taxes range from approximately EUR 90,000 to EUR 115,000 per year depending on the authorisation scope.
What software certification is required for a Romania gaming licence?
Your platform, games, and RNG must receive certification from a Class II-licensed testing laboratory approved in Romania. In addition, the certification must cover every game category you intend to offer. Otherwise, ONJN will not accept an application for uncertified software.
What does a Romania Class I licence not permit?
A Class I licence covers remote gambling for Romanian residents only. It does not grant access to other markets, does not replace the annual authorisation requirement, and does not cover retail or land-based gambling.
Need help with your Romania gaming licence application? DD Consultus manages the full process, from corporate setup and software certification coordination to ONJN submission and annual authorisation renewals. Contact us at contact@licencegaming.com or call +356 99408536.