Romania Expands Control Over Unlicensed Gambling

Romania Expands Control Over Unlicensed Gambling

Romania has taken a further step in reshaping its gambling framework by approving legislative amendments aimed at reducing the presence of unlicensed activity and clarifying the role of licensed suppliers within the market. The changes, now in force, reflect a growing regulatory focus on how gambling services are delivered, not only by operators that interact directly with players, but also by the companies that provide the technical and financial infrastructure behind them.

At the centre of this reform is Law 239/2025, which introduces a revised approach to responsibility across the gambling supply chain. Until now, enforcement efforts in Romania, as in many other jurisdictions, have primarily focused on licensed operators and consumer-facing platforms. Suppliers, while regulated, often occupied a less defined position, particularly when operators outside the national licensing system used their services. The new amendments seek to reduce this ambiguity by setting clearer limits on when supplier involvement becomes unlawful.

The law applies specifically to holders of Class II licences, a category that includes software developers, platform and hosting providers, payment processors, and other companies that support gambling operations without directly offering wagering services. Under the updated framework, these entities are prohibited from providing services to unlicensed operators under specific conditions. An operator must offer gambling content in Romanian, allow deposits or withdrawals in Romanian lei or other currencies, including cryptoassets, and make its services available to Romanian players without holding a valid Class I licence issued by the National Gambling Office.

This three-part test represents a meaningful change in how liability is assessed. Previously, suppliers faced potential exposure if any single factor suggested a connection to the Romanian market, even where that connection was indirect or incidental. That interpretation created uncertainty, particularly for international suppliers whose platforms operate across borders and languages. By requiring that all three conditions be present simultaneously, lawmakers have introduced a more targeted standard that focuses on deliberate market access rather than accidental reach.

While the revised test narrows the scope of liability, the overall burden on suppliers has increased. Licensed B2B companies are now required to take active measures when Romanian players are detected on unlicensed platforms. This includes blocking access and immediately informing the operator so that the situation can be addressed. The obligation is not limited to reporting after the fact, but requires suppliers to intervene as soon as such activity is identified.

This shift illustrates a broader change in regulatory thinking. Romanian lawmakers appear to be moving away from a model that treats unlicensed gambling solely as an operator problem and toward one that recognises the role of infrastructure in sustaining illegal activity. Unlicensed platforms often rely on legitimate software, payment channels, and hosting services. By extending compliance duties to these areas, the legislation aims to limit the operational space available to unlicensed operators.

The consequences for failing to comply are significant. Breaches of the new rules constitute a criminal offence, carrying potential prison sentences of between six months and two years, alongside financial penalties. In addition, regulators may revoke licences or, in extreme cases, order the dissolution of companies found to be in serious violation. These sanctions underline the seriousness with which Romanian authorities are approaching supplier responsibility.

For licensed suppliers, the amendments are likely to prompt internal reviews of monitoring and control systems. Companies will need to ensure that they can identify Romanian users with sufficient accuracy and respond quickly when unlicensed access is detected. This may involve enhanced geolocation tools, revised contractual terms with operators, and clearer escalation procedures. While these measures may increase compliance costs, they also offer greater legal certainty by defining the circumstances under which suppliers are expected to act.

The changes may also alter the dynamics of competition within the Romanian market. Unlicensed operators often benefit from lower costs by avoiding regulatory requirements and oversight. By restricting their access to licensed suppliers, the new law increases the practical difficulty of operating without authorisation. Over time, this could reduce the visibility and availability of unregulated platforms, strengthening the position of licensed operators that comply with national rules.

Romania's approach aligns with a wider European trend toward shared responsibility in gambling regulation. As technology becomes more modular and services are increasingly delivered across borders, regulators are paying closer attention to how different parts of the industry interact. Supplier-focused measures are becoming a common tool for addressing gaps that traditional operator-based enforcement cannot easily reach.

The immediate effect of Law 239/2025 is a clearer distribution of responsibility. Suppliers can no longer rely on the assumption that distance from the end user shields them from regulatory exposure, particularly when their services support platforms that actively target Romanian players. At the same time, the law provides a more predictable framework for compliance by setting out specific criteria rather than broad, open-ended obligations.