Romania rolls out new laws targeting illegal gambling sites
Romania has rolled out new measures to combat illegal offshore gambling, tightening the net around unlicensed operators and the suppliers that support them.
Lawmakers have approved amendments designed to close loopholes in the current framework and strengthen protections for the regulated market, with the changes taking effect immediately.
The latest changes follow changes to the taxation of the industry in August, with this now including a tax on the operator and any winnings that might be withdrawn.
The reforms impose tougher obligations on Class II B2B licence holders, including iGaming software developers, hosting providers, payment processors and platform services.
Under Law 239/2025, suppliers are barred from working with unlicensed operators that target Romanian players by offering Romanian-language content, accepting deposits or withdrawals in the Romanian leu or other currencies, including crypto, and operating without a valid Official National Pentru Jocuri de Noroc licence.
Licensed software suppliers must now actively block access when Romanian players are detected on unlicensed gambling sites and notify operators without delay. Breaches are treated as criminal offences, carrying a potential six month to two-year prison sentences, fines and licence revocation.
From January 2026, slot machines and video lottery terminals must also be fitted with integrated geolocation systems, signalling further regulatory tightening ahead.
Will Romania’s tougher gambling laws work?
We have seen it in other similar gambling markets where the best plans fall apart when put into practice, so Romanian lawmakers need to tread carefully here.
The laws essentially close loopholes and force most aspect of iGaming to get a Romanian gambling license to operate in this South Eastern Europe country legally, which is ultimately good for the consumer.
But combining these laws with heavy taxation is going to create a tough market for operators, and give a free-kick to the illegal market, which will continue to accept Romanians, including the now-banned crypto gambling sites.
The biggest problem they face is enforcing these laws beyond Romania, with many gambling sites based in places like Curacao, where the regulator does little to stop operators from accepting players from jurisdictions with strict gambling laws.
