What is the Oficiului Național pentru Jocuri de Noroc?
Established in 2013, the Oficiului Național pentru Jocuri de Noroc began monitoring gambling in Romania more stringently from the latter half of 2015 onwards. While online gambling services have been permitted in the country since 2014, there are no restrictions on gaming at foreign casinos. Although this gave Romanian players the luxury of choice, it also led to issues such as money laundering, loss of tax revenue, and lack of protection for Romanian players.
Today, the landscape of gambling and online gambling activities in Romania looks very different. From slots and table games to bingo and sweepstakes, all forms of gambling across land-based and online casinos require gambling licenses to operate. In order for a gambling website to legally offer its services to players, it must first obtain a Class 1 ONJN License.
This is issued temporarily for 1 year, and can be extended to 10 years afterwards. Furthermore, in addition to operators, all software providers as well as certain marketing and advertising companies need to be licensed as well. It’s clear that the ONJN is taking its role seriously, and making gambling safer and more regulated for Romanian players.
Popular Online Casinos Licensed in Romania
If you’re a Romanian online casino player looking to place a bet on a site that’s licensed, legal and regulated, you’ll have a number of different options to choose from. The Oficiului Național pentru Jocuri de Noroc has three different licenses available, with various permissions, for those operators and companies seeking Romanian licensing:
Class 1 License (Type 1): issued to gambling operators holding a definitive license, valid for 10 years.
Class 1 License (Type 2): issued to gambling operators holding a temporary license, valid for 1 year, with the option of being upgraded to a Type 1 license.
Class 2 License: issued to software providers and companies supplying products and services to the Romanian gambling industry.
Class 3 License: issued to the National Romanian Lottery.
All licenses require operators to pay certain fees and abide by Romanian law.
Thanks to licensed foreign online gambling operators being allowed to accept players from Romania, as a Romanian player, you’ll have a variety of reputable online casinos to choose from, including known providers.
Applying for an Oficiului Național pentru Jocuri de Noroc license
In order to apply for an ONJN gambling license, there are a number of technical and operational requirements that need to be met, including:
Location
Any operator applying for an ONJN gambling license must have their main server located either in Romania, any other EU or EEA member state, or in the Swiss Confederation. If an operator’s main server is not located in Romania, they must install a secure mirror server within the country.
Class 2 licensees
Online gambling operators can only partner with B2B providers (e.g. software developers) that have a Class 2 License. Furthermore, operators must be able to demonstrate that their gambling software, including the RTP and RNG for each game, has been certified by a company with a Class 2 License.
The licensing process
Should all technical and operational requirements be fulfilled, the Class 1 licensing application process is fairly uncomplicated. Certain documentation needs to be submitted to prove to the ONJN that the applicant is in good standing, and can cover any debts it may incur.
The documentation must include information on the applicant’s technical and reporting systems as well. Approval for the gambling license will then be granted on the basis of the documentation submitted for analysis.
The Pros and Cons of the Oficiului Național pentru Jocuri de Noroc gambling license
Applying for an ONJN gambling license comes with various pros and cons, which all applicants should be aware of.
Pros
- An ONJN gambling license incurs fewer taxes and licensing fees than those in other EU jurisdictions.
- A 10-year license helps support operators’ long-term success.
- Hiring qualified Romanian staff offers significant tax deductions.
- Online gambling servers do not need to be physically located in Romania.
- EU players are able to join .com platforms licensed in Romania, with no taxes for the operator or non-Romanian citizens.
Cons
- In order to apply for a Class 1 License, a company must be established within the EU, the EEA or the Swiss Confederation.
- Those online operators whose main servers are not physically located in Romania must establish safe mirror servers in the country.
- Online gambling operators must open Romanian bank accounts, and must process all player transactions via a licensed Class 2 payment processor.
Domestic Laws and Regulations of the Oficiului Național pentru Jocuri de Noroc
If an online casino with an ONJN gambling license is found to be non-compliant with any of its laws and regulations, a player may file a complaint with the Oficiului Național pentru Jocuri de Noroc. Should the online casino be found guilty, a large fine may be imposed, and in some cases the license may even be revoked.
Having these regulations in place holds operators accountable for their practices at all times, and helps maintain industry best practices. Additionally, all online casinos are required to be secured by stringent encryption technology, further safeguarding the security of players.
Additional Oficiului Național pentru Jocuri de Noroc Legislation
In addition to the various legalities associated with ONJN licenses, there is additional legislation that governs the gambling activities of licensed online casino operators, particularly concerning marketing and advertising:
- All unsolicited emails and spam are strictly prohibited.
- Sending marketing materials to self-excluded online players is forbidden.
- Unauthorized gambling advertising is prohibited.
- Outdoor advertising may not be placed in the vicinity of schools, cultural or religious premises.
- Online casino bonuses may only be promoted through limited, licensed channels.
Furthermore, all online gambling operators are obliged to contribute €5,000 annually to socially responsible gambling activities, to help prevent gambling addiction.
The History of the Oficiului Național pentru Jocuri de Noroc
The Oficiului Național pentru Jocuri de Noroc has been in effect since 2013. However, it was only in 2015 that it began enforcing its laws and guidelines. Prior to this, Romanians were free to play at the foreign online casino of their choice. After amending Romanian gambling regulations and introducing the ONJN license, the Oficiului Național pentru Jocuri de Noroc was able to address illegal and unregulated gambling, and protect the safety of Romanian players.
Today, all licensed online casinos must be in compliance with the regulations as laid out in their license, which directly contributes to better security and safer online gambling for players. With more security and more transparency, player satisfaction is improved, and Romanian players can enjoy quality online gambling and continued peace of mind.
About the author
Aria Mitchell
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From Rotorua's scenic landscapes, Aria Mitchell shines as New Zealand's leading expert in localizing online casino content. Marrying Kiwi essence with global gaming insights, she's the name trusted nationwide.