Top Online Casinos in Romania in 2026

Romania was a satellite state under communist rule until 1989, and as such, all gambling activities were strictly prohibited. All that changed when the Soviet Union collapsed, and it wasn’t long before Romania opened its first casino – Casino Bucharest at Hotel InterContinental in 1991. Palace Casino Bucharest shortly followed, but it was closed in 2012.

Fast forward a couple of decades, and Romania officially became part of the European Union. Although there is no specific gambling regulation in the EU, all EU countries must comply with the freedoms established in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

For gambling, the freedom to provide services in another EU country is crucial. As such, with pressure from the EU mounting, Romania legalised online casinos in 2009, but it wasn’t until the Romanian National Office for Gambling was introduced in 2010 that online casino sites were allowed to legally enter the market.

The Government Decision No. 111/2016 approved the implementation of the aforementioned Ordinance of 2009. It outlined specific licensing procedures, as well as the structure of the National Gambling Office of Romania, which was tasked to oversee the market and issue licenses.

To obtain a gambling licence in Romania, a casino online must apply for a Class 1 licence, which allows it to organise games of chance. In addition, under Romanian law, B2B providers (those supplying software, platforms, or services to B2C operators) are also subject to regulation. These suppliers must hold a Class 2 licence to legally support licensed online casinos.

In 2023, further amendments were introduced that heavily impacted potential entries into the market. With Ordinance No. 82/2023, the costs of obtaining and maintaining a licence drastically increased. It also increased taxes and administrative fees for all online operators and service providers.

As of 2025, shortcomings in licence audits, gambling tax supervision, and authorisation fee collections were discovered during an audit of the National Gambling Office of Romania (ONJN) by the Romanian Court of Accounts (CCR). Therefore, we may see significant changes to Romania’s legal framework regarding gambling in the future.

From local payment methods, all the way to internationally accepted options like PayPal and Apple Pay, Romanian online casinos allow you to deposit and withdraw in various methods. Here are the commonly used payment methods among players:

• Debit/Credit Cards: With high levels of security of Visa and Mastercard, they are a convenient way to make transactions at casinos. According to The Global Economy, debit cards are used more among Romanians.
• Bank Transfers: Local banks, such as Banca Transilvania, ING Romania, and BRD, offer instant payment services through their banking apps, while certain platforms can use Netopia MobilePay and PayU to integrate bank transfer options.
• Crypto Payments: If you play at offshore casinos that accept Romanian players, you may be allowed to make transactions with cryptos, such as BTC, ETH, LTC, and USDT. They offer fast and low-fee deposits and withdrawals on decentralised blockchain networks through crypto wallets.
• Buy Now, Pay Later: BNPL options allow casino players to pay in instalments. Local payment methods offer these services; for instance, players can have financial flexibility with Mokka and Leanpay. These options are usually not available for withdrawals.
• Google Pay and Apple Pay: Digital wallets like Google Pay and Apple Pay are even supported by most Romanian banks, so they offer a convenient way to make transactions without disclosing bank account details.
• Other E-wallets: The fast e-wallet options like PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller are widely accepted in casinos. They offer secure transactions, and they are commonly available for withdrawals. They might not be eligible to claim the first deposit bonuses in some casinos.

The game library at prominent casinos that accept players from Romania usually contains thousands of different variations and well-recognised casino games. Here is how these games are generally grouped:

• Slot Games: Romanians can play demo slots to test new games before playing for real money. Some leading game providers like EGT have offices in Romania, so they focus on creating tailored slot machines for Romanian players. Megaways, Bonus Buy, and Cluster Pays are some of the popular slots among players, with Burning Hot, Starburst, Gonzo’s Quest, and the Gates of Olympus slot being sought-after.
• Table Games: RNG versions of card and table games feature in Romanian casinos. Unlike live dealer games, they are available in demo mode. oker, blackjack, roulette, and baccarat are still a niche genre but hold a decent share. Three Card Poker, Texas Hold’em, Sic Bo, and Multihand Blackjack are among the popular games.
• Jackpot Games: Progressive and fixed jackpots are extremely popular casino games among Romanians due to their fast-paced gameplay and hefty win potential. Usually, these casino games with high RTP are stored in a separate category, which eases navigation. Shining Crown, Burning Hot, 20 Super Hot, Age of the Gods Series, and Divine Fortune are among the top-rated jackpots.
• Instant Win Games: Scratchcards, keno, plinko, crash, and other games offer simplistic gameplay and instant rewards; it has been gaining popularity among Romanian players. Their simplicity adds a nice change in scenery when playing at a casino online.
• Live Casino Games: Live dealer games are streamed in real time and brought to Romanian players’ screens in HD graphics. Real dealers lead the gameplay at the best live casinos; you can communicate with them through live chat, and you can do live betting. Top live game providers like Ezugi and Pragmatic Play are licensed by the ONJN.

Romanian operators are not one of the tax-free online casinos; they are subjected to three gaming taxes:

1. 21% of their annual Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR).
2. €500,000 annual responsible gambling tax.
3. 0.5% of GGR for the National Cultural Fund.

In addition to the taxes imposed on operators, players are also subject to taxation on their winnings. Under Romanian law, all casino winnings, regardless of the amount, are taxed at 4%. Players need to report their earnings, as this helps ensure compliance with tax laws.

Romania launched a self-exclusion register in 2020 in a bid to promote responsible play at online casinos and prevent gambling addiction. This system was regulated by the ONJN, and it was aligned with EU standards for player protection.

In 2025, ONJN introduced the so-called “Single Self-Exclusion Rule”, which determined that licensed casinos must endorse players’ self-exclusion as a single account principle. That way, self-excluded players are no longer allowed to switch platforms and continue playing.

Romania’s gambling market has significantly evolved in the past years, with both players and operators being subject to notable changes. Many factors, such as recent changes in the taxation regime and uncertainty of the ONJN’s credibility, caused a significant blow to gambling in the country. Therefore, we may see major changes in the legal framework of gambling in Romania soon. Meanwhile, we recommend Romanian players to stick to licensed casinos with fair and responsible play.