| Updated: September 26, 2025Romania is an Eastern European country that joined the European Union in January 2007. Since then, it has experienced significant economic growth. Bran Castle, commonly known as Dracula’s Castle, is the country’s most-visited attraction. Living standards in Romania are continually improving, creating favorable conditions for the expansion of the gambling market.
Although Romanians are not considered avid gamblers, many still enjoy the pastime – and the numbers prove it. According to data compiled by Statista, Romania’s online sports betting market was estimated at $87 million in 2019. The market is projected to grow to more than $202 million by 2026. The most popular sports in Romania are football, hockey, tennis, horse racing, and boxing.
Best Sports Betting Sites in Romania
According to Romania’s gambling law, all forms of gambling, including sports betting, are legal. However, betting companies must obtain licenses from the Romanian gambling regulator to operate in the country.
For various reasons, the number of betting sites approved by the Romanian gambling authority is limited. Consequently, many Romanian bettors use foreign betting sites. In the list below, you can find some of the most reliable sportsbooks that accept bettors from Romania.
Best Sports Betting Bonuses in Romania
Betting on sports is a favorite pastime for many Romanians. Online betting sites that accept players from the country offer a variety of bonuses designed to attract newcomers. Online sportsbooks also reward their existing punters with generous incentives. Note that every sports-betting promotion comes with bonus terms that you must adhere to.
Match Deposit Bonuses Free Bets Risk-Free Bets Acca InsuranceMatch Deposit Bonuses
Many online sportsbooks offer match deposit bonuses. In most cases, these promotions are available only to newcomers who fund their accounts for the first time. Match deposit bonuses usually have a limit and come with a playthrough condition, a minimum-odds requirement, and a time limit.
Free Bets
Depending on the betting platform you join, you may receive a free bet bonus. Free bets allow punters to place a wager on a sporting event without using any of their own funds. If the bet wins, you will collect a profit, and if it loses, your real-money balance will remain unchanged.
Risk-Free Bets
Generally speaking, this sports-betting bonus allows bettors to recoup the losses from a losing wager. The refund from a risk-free bet is usually credited as free bets. It is important to note that risk-free bets and free bets are two distinct promotions.
Acca Insurance
Accumulator bets combine multiple selections into a single wager and pay only if all legs win. If one selection lets you down, the entire bet is lost. However, with Acca insurance, if all but one selection win, the sportsbook will refund your stake in the form of free site credits.
Betting Regulation in Romania
In 1906, Romania’s national lottery, Loteria Romana, was established, becoming the first form of legalized gambling in the country. Funds from the lottery were used to support various social programs, such as education and healthcare. Between 1947 and 1989, Romania was a Soviet satellite state. During this period, all forms of gambling were banned; however, the prohibition only fueled illegal gambling activity.
Just one year after the communist regime collapsed in 1989, land-based casino gambling was legalized. The first brick-and-mortar casino in Romania was established in 1991. Nevertheless, the country failed to introduce a comprehensive regulatory framework. At that time, betting shops, casinos, and slot machine parlors started to spring up like mushrooms, operating without a license. In 2003, the government opened its sports betting industry to foreign companies.
At that time, remote gambling was neither legal nor illegal simply because there was no legislation in place. However, the exponential growth of online gambling made it clear that the country had to amend and modernize its gambling law.
Romania Legalizes Online Sports Betting Gambling Winnings are Taxed in Romania Gambling Advertising RestrictionsRomania Legalizes Online Sports Betting
In 2010, Government Emergency Ordinance No. 77/2009 was signed into law, legalizing online gambling and sports betting. According to the ordinance, foreign operators must obtain a local license to operate in Romania. However, the law had one major loophole – it did not specify the licensing conditions operators had to meet to receive approval. In addition, no regulatory authority existed to issue licenses and oversee the industry at that time. As a result, many foreign operators began accepting Romanian players and sports fans without a license.
In 2013, the Romanian government passed Government Emergency Ordinance No. 20/2013, under which the National Gaming Office (NGO) was established. The NGO was tasked with setting clear licensing rules, overseeing the gambling industry, and issuing licenses.
The European Union later challenged the new rules because they required foreign operators to establish a physical presence in Romania and locate the servers hosting their sites within the country. Additionally, the gambling regulator introduced a tax scheme for online poker under which every individual bet was taxed.
In 2016, Romania introduced new gambling reforms, allowing companies based in an EU member state, a country within the European Economic Area (EEA), or the Swiss Confederacy to obtain a license from Romania’s gambling regulator, provided they run their Romanian mirror sites from within the country.
The country has invested substantial effort in blocking access to unlicensed gambling and sports betting sites. Romanian gambling law even states that a fine will be imposed on Romanian sports fans and players who use the services of unlicensed gambling sites. However, few operators are eager to acquire a Romanian license because of unfavorable licensing conditions and high taxes. Licensed betting sites must not allow bettors from Romania to deposit more than €200 until they verify their identity.
Gambling Winnings are Taxed in Romania
One of the main reasons Romanian punters resort to offshore sportsbooks is the hefty taxes imposed on gambling winnings. Sports fans must pay a tax ranging from 3% to 40%, depending on the amount they win. In 2022, the government amended the Romanian Tax Code, and the current taxes on gambling winnings are:
- 3% for gambling winnings of up to RON10,000
- For winnings between RON10,000 and RON66,750, punters must pay RON300 plus 20% on the amount that exceeds RON10,000
- For income above RON66,750, the tax is RON11,650 plus 40% on the amount that exceeds RON66,750
It is important to note that the legal gambling age in Romania is 18.
Gambling Advertising Restrictions
Gambling advertising is also strictly regulated in Romania. Licensed operators may promote casino and sports betting bonuses on their websites or on their affiliates’ websites. Promoting gambling activities that are not authorized by the Romanian regulator is strictly prohibited. Licensed companies must not send advertising materials to self-excluded punters. It is important to note that even marketing affiliates, payment processors, auditors, and software providers must obtain a license from the NGO.
In 2023, the Romanian Senate introduced a draft bill aimed at tightening restrictions on gambling advertising. If the bill comes into force, gambling commercials on TV will be banned from 6 am to 11 pm. In addition, gambling ads will be allowed during live sports broadcasts only when there is a player substitution or a score change.