ONJN Romania
- Founded
- 2014-01-01 in Bucharest, Romania
- Headquarters
- Bld. Tudor Vladimirescu, Nr. 29A, Et. 7, Sector 5, București, Romania
The Oficiul Național pentru Jocuri de Noroc (ONJN), known in English as the National Gambling Office, is the central regulatory authority for all gambling activities in Romania. Subordinated directly to the Romanian Government, ONJN is responsible for issuing licences and authorisations, monitoring compliance, and enforcing gambling laws across both online and land‑based sectors. Established in 2014 through Government Emergency Ordinance No. 92/2014 (approved by Law No. 124/2015), the agency oversees a market that includes casinos, slot machines, sports betting, poker, bingo, and remote gambling platforms. ONJN operates a two‑tier licensing system: Class I licences for operators and Class II licences for suppliers, technology providers, payment processors, and affiliates. The office also publishes a public registry of all licensed entities and, in 2025, launched a first‑of‑its‑kind gaming device registry that uses QR‑code and geolocation technology to allow instant verification of every authorised machine in the country. Beyond licensing, ONJN enforces responsible‑gambling measures, anti‑money‑laundering protocols, and player‑protection rules. Its activities are guided by Romania’s primary gambling legislation, Government Emergency Ordinance No. 77/2009, as subsequently amended, and by European Union standards for consumer protection and financial integrity.
Detailed Review
Overview and Legal Foundation
ONJN was created during a major overhaul of Romania’s gambling framework, replacing an earlier fragmented system with a unified national regulator. Its legal foundation is Government Emergency Ordinance No. 92/2014, later ratified by Law No. 124/2015. The office is headed by a President appointed by the Prime Minister and organised into directorates covering licensing, inspection, legal affairs, and anti‑money‑laundering.
Licensing Regime
ONJN administers two licence classes: Class I (Operator Licence) is required by any entity offering gambling services to Romanian residents, with operators needing a permanent establishment in Romania. Class II (Supplier/Service Licence) covers software providers, platform hosts, payment processors, certifiers, and affiliates, including a specific licence for payment service providers operating in the online gambling space. Both classes require rigorous background checks, technical audits, and ongoing compliance reporting. Licences are valid for 10 years (Class I) and 5 years (Class II), with annual renewal fees.
Regulatory Functions
Monitoring & Enforcement: ONJN inspects licensed premises, audits gaming systems, and can impose fines, suspend, or revoke licences for non‑compliance. Player Protection: The agency mandates responsible‑gambling tools (deposit limits, self‑exclusion) and enforces rules on advertising and marketing. Anti‑Money Laundering (AML): ONJN supervises operators under Romania’s AML legislation, requiring transaction monitoring and suspicious‑activity reporting. Public Registries: ONJN maintains online lists of all Class I and Class II licence holders. In 2025 it launched a groundbreaking public gaming‑device registry – each slot machine or VLT must carry a unique QR code and geolocation data, enabling anyone to verify its licence status in real time. This initiative, mandated by Law No. 141/2025, is the first such system in Europe.
Market Impact
Romania’s regulated gambling market has grown significantly under ONJN’s oversight, attracting major international operators and suppliers. The agency’s strict licensing criteria and zero‑tolerance approach to black‑market operators have helped channel activity into the legal framework while generating substantial tax revenue for the state budget.
Recent Developments
In 2025/2026, ONJN has focused on digitalising compliance – the QR‑code registry is part of a broader “digital compliance” push. The agency has also tightened rules on affiliate marketing and payment‑service licensing, and has signed cooperation agreements with other European regulators to combat cross‑border illegal gambling.
Key Products
Class 1 Operator Licensing
Issuance, renewal, and supervision of B2C licences for casinos, sports betting, poker rooms, bingo halls, and slot machine operators.
Class 2 Supplier Licensing
Authorisation of B2B service providers including software developers, platform hosts, payment processors, game certifiers, and affiliate marketers.
National Self-Exclusion Register
A unified database managed by ONJN where players can voluntarily exclude themselves from all licensed gambling operators; unified procedure introduced via Order No. 79/2025.
Gambling Equipment Certification
Approval and registration of slot machines, electronic gaming terminals, and online gaming systems.
Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Oversight
Enforcement of AML compliance obligations for all licensed operators, including reporting and training requirements.
Harm Prevention Funding Programme
A €5 million grant scheme launched in 2025 to support third-party projects focused on gambling harm prevention and research.
Public Register of Licensed Operators
Online searchable database of all Class 1 licence holders and authorised gambling venues.
Licensed Operator Register (Clasa I & Clasa II)
Publicly accessible online databases listing all authorized gambling operators (B2C) and suppliers (B2B) in Romania, including company names, license dates, and expiration dates.
National Self-Exclusion System
A centralized mechanism introduced via Presidential Order no. 79/2025, allowing players to voluntarily exclude themselves from all licensed gambling operators in Romania.
Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Portal
A system for licensed operators to submit mandatory AML reports to the ONJN, in line with Romanian and EU AML directives.
Secondary Legislation Orders
Regulatory tools issued by the ONJN President (e.g., Order no. 79/2025) that set technical standards and procedural rules for the entire gambling industry.
Licensing & Authorisation Regime
Issues Class I and Class II licences for operators, suppliers, payment processors, and affiliates.
Public Registries
Online databases of all licensed entities, updated regularly; includes the Gaming Device Registry with QR‑code/geolocation verification (launched 2025).
Compliance Monitoring & Enforcement
Conducts inspections, audits, and sanctions for non‑compliance.
Anti‑Money Laundering Supervision
Oversees operator AML procedures and reports suspicious transactions.
Responsible Gambling Framework
Mandates player‑protection tools and self‑exclusion schemes.
Advisory & Policy Support
Advises the Romanian Government on gambling legislation and market developments.