Gambling Age In Romania

Minimum Age: 19

Details and Explanation

Legal Age Requirement: In Romania, the minimum legal age for participating in gambling activities is 19. This applies to casinos, sports betting, lotteries, and online platforms, as per the Gambling Law, enforced to protect minors from gambling-related risks.

Offline / Land-Based Gambling: Land-based gambling is legal and thriving, with over 200 casinos and 20,000 gaming halls in Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca, offering slots, poker, and table games, aligning with your interest in extensive game catalogs. Betting shops are widespread, requiring ID checks to enforce the 19-year-old age limit. The market, valued at €1 billion annually, supports tourism but faces scrutiny over gambling addiction, prompting stricter venue regulations in 2024.

Online Gambling: Online gambling is legal and regulated since 2015, with licensed operators offering casinos, sports betting, and poker via mobile-friendly platforms. The National Gambling Office (ONJN) ensures age verification and compliance. The market, generating €600 million in 2024, is one of Europe’s fastest-growing. Unlicensed offshore sites are blacklisted, with over 2,000 domains blocked by 2025, and players using them face fines up to RON 10,000.

Regulation and Oversight: The ONJN, under the Ministry of Finance, regulates gambling under Emergency Ordinance 77/2009, amended in 2024. It oversees licensing, akin to Kahnawake’s rigor, enforcing fair play, anti-money laundering measures, and responsible gambling initiatives, including mandatory advertising restrictions to curb addiction. Recent reforms increased operator taxes to 20%, funding addiction prevention programs, while Romania’s EU membership attracts international operators to its €1.6 billion market.

Enforcement and Penalties: Romania enforces its regulations rigorously. Operators face inspections, with violations like underage gambling leading to fines up to RON 100,000, license revocation, or criminal charges. Illegal websites are blocked, and players engaging in underage or unlicensed gambling face fines or account closures. The ONJN’s 2024 advertising crackdown, prompted by media freedom concerns, reinforces Romania’s commitment to a secure and socially responsible gambling environment.