ONJN licence: what it means, how to check it, licensed casinos
Romania's national gambling regulator since 2013; licenses online and land-based operators and suppliers under OUG 77/2009 and blacklists unlicensed sites.
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Founded
2013
About the Oficiul Național pentru Jocuri de Noroc
The Oficiul Național pentru Jocuri de Noroc (ONJN) was set up in 2013 by Emergency Ordinance No. 20/2013 to give Romania one body that licenses, monitors and controls gambling. It covers both land-based gambling and online gambling aimed at Romanian players.
The main law it applies is Emergency Ordinance No. 77/2009. Only companies holding a Class I licence plus a specific authorization from ONJN may offer games of chance to the public. Class II licences cover suppliers such as software platforms, equipment makers, payment providers and affiliates. A Class II licence does not allow a company to run a casino or betting site.
For players, a Class I licence means the operator must offer tools such as deposit limits and self-exclusion, show risk warnings and pay out winnings under published rules. ONJN can fine operators, revoke licences and file criminal complaints, and it keeps a public blacklist of unlicensed sites.
To check a site, open the Class I licensee list on onjn.gov.ro and compare the legal company name behind the site with the names on the list, not just the brand. Illegal operators sometimes copy well-known brands.
Recent changes
April 2025: ONJN leadership was replaced. 2025: Law 141/2025 let ONJN order removal of illegal gambling content and require Class II suppliers to report monthly on attempts to reach unlicensed sites. October 2025: ONJN blacklisted the prediction market Polymarket. Between April 2025 and April 2026 it revoked 60 licences, filed 70 criminal complaints and launched a public register of physical gaming devices with QR codes.
ONJN licence facts
| Country | Romania |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2013 |
| Law | Government Emergency Ordinance (OUG) No. 77/2009 on organising and operating gambling |
| Licenses | online casino, online sports betting, land-based casinos, betting shops, slot machine halls, gambling suppliers |
| Licence types | Class I licence (operators offering games to the public), Class II licence (suppliers of software, equipment, payment and other services, including affiliates), Operating authorization per game type |
| Market | Licences operators serving players in Romania only; unlicensed sites are placed on a public blacklist. |
| Self-exclusion | ONJN runs a self-exclusion system that covered about 54,000 people in 2026; a draft emergency ordinance would align land-based and online self-exclusion. |
| Player protection | Licensed operators must offer deposit and play limits. Licensed operators must offer self-exclusion. Risk warnings shown to players. Public blacklist of unlicensed gambling sites. |
| Complaints | Players first complain to the operator, then can escalate to ONJN or to consumer protection bodies. |
| Licence register | onjn.gov.ro/licentiati-clasa-i |
| Website | onjn.gov.ro |
ONJN licence FAQ
How do I check if a casino holds an ONJN licence?
Open the Class I licensee list on onjn.gov.ro and look for the legal name of the company that runs the site. The brand name alone is not enough, because unlicensed sites sometimes copy known brands.
What is the difference between a Class I and a Class II licence in Romania?
Class I is for operators that offer games directly to players, such as online casinos and betting sites. Class II is for suppliers like software providers, payment processors and affiliates. Only a Class I licence allows a site to take bets from Romanian players.
When was the ONJN created?
It was established in 2013 by Emergency Ordinance No. 20/2013, to bring licensing, control and monitoring of gambling under one authority.
Can I self-exclude from gambling in Romania?
Yes. Licensed operators must offer self-exclusion, and ONJN runs a self-exclusion system that covered about 54,000 people in 2026. A draft ordinance would make the rules the same for online and land-based venues.
Where can I complain about a Romanian gambling operator?
Contact the operator first. If that does not settle the issue, you can complain to ONJN or to a consumer protection organisation.
What happens to unlicensed gambling sites in Romania?
ONJN adds them to a public blacklist and can order illegal content to be removed. It also files criminal complaints against unlicensed operators.
Other gambling regulators
Researched by Konrad van Daath, checked 7 November 2026. Facts come from public sources (ro.wikipedia.org, imgl.org, infocons.ro, igamingbusiness.com). Always confirm a licence in the regulator's own register. Gambling is for adults only and can be addictive; play responsibly.
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