The Romanian gambling regulator blocked 30 unlicensed gambling sites targeting citizens illegally. Internet service providers (ISPs) have been instructed to restrict access to the affected platforms within two weeks and redirect users to the official websites of Romania’s National Office for Gambling (ONJN).
30 Unlicensed Gambling Sites Banned in Romania: Key Insights
- The affected websites include offshore operators, many of which appeared overnight and advertised heavily on digital platforms and several sites that have been attracting heavy traffic for months.
- The gambling regulator has instructed Romanian ISPs to blacklist the domain names of violators and redirect traffic to the ONJN’s official website. ISPs must comply within 15 days.
- Affected operators can file an appeal against the ban through the Bucharest Court of Appeal within 30 days. However, the process can be slow and expensive, suggesting that most operators are likely to comply rather than fight the verdict.
ONJN Finalises New List of Illicit Gambling Operators
Romania’s gambling regulator, the ONJN, has blacklisted 30 online gambling platforms for offering online casino and sports betting services to citizens without a local licence.
These operators were targeting Romanian consumers without following the rules or paying taxes. Players who attempt to access the blocked websites will see a page displaying a message that the operator does not possess the necessary licence to operate in Romania, before being redirected to the ONJN’s official website.
The ONJN has requested that ISPs block the domain names of illicit operators within 15 days of being notified. The ONJN’s General Directorate for Computerisation and Monitoring of Gambling has prepared a list of blacklisted operators, which will be sent to Romanian internet companies.
Affected operators can challenge the ban through the Bucharest Court of Appeal within 30 days. However, the process is known to be slow and expensive, suggesting that most operators will likely comply with the ban rather than challenge it.
ONJN Taking Proactive Measures to Enforce Gambling Legislation
The latest step is part of a wider government initiative to regulate Romania’s gambling market. Earlier this year, Romania’s Court of Accounts uncovered severe regulatory lapses within the ONJN, resulting in the state losing €1 billion in tax revenue. The issue was swiftly resolved, and authorities introduced new laws to govern the industry.
Notable measures include a gambling tax hike, raising the standard VAT from 19% to 21%, and the dividend tax rate from 10% to 16%. Online gambling operators must now pay a 27% tax on their annual Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR). Meanwhile, consumer taxes increased to 4% on gambling winnings from the earlier 3%.
The ONJN also sent formal notices to social media giants Meta and Google for the immediate removal of ad campaigns promoting unregulated gambling sites to Romanian consumers. The order came as the watchdog discovered several of these campaigns on Facebook, Instagram, and Google search results pages.
Ilie Bolojan, the Prime Minister of Romania, has announced plans to introduce new legislative reforms that would allow local municipalities to decide whether or not to permit gambling within their jurisdiction. Regional leaders, too, have reacted sharply to the proliferation of illegal gambling platforms in Romania.
Earlier in June, the Romanian Legal Affairs Committee approved a parliamentary proposal to overhaul the country’s gambling legislation. Introducing a gambling self-exclusion framework was one of the most important reforms proposed. This would ensure quicker response times, online accessibility, and penalties for non-compliance.