ISPs Mandated to Block Access
Under the ONJN’s decision, Romanian internet service providers must redirect traffic from blocked domains to a designated regulator IP address within 15 days of notification. The General Directorate for Computerisation and Monitoring of Gambling will communicate the blacklist to authorized electronic communications providers within 48 hours.
Players attempting to access blocked sites will encounter a page confirming the operator lacks authorization to serve the Romanian market before being redirected to the ONJN’s official website.
Blocked Platforms Target Romanian Players
The blacklisted domains include various casino and betting platforms such as wazbee.casino, jacktop.com, roostake.com, multiple “nv” branded casino domains (nv5.casino through nv93.casino), and several ybets platforms. The list encompasses both established international gambling brands and smaller operators targeting Romanian players without local licensing.
Many of these platforms attracted players through aggressive social media marketing campaigns and bonus offers that licensed operators cannot match under current advertising restrictions. Some sites appeared rapidly and marketed heavily across digital platforms, while others operated for months attracting steady player traffic.
Appeals Process Available
Affected operators can file administrative appeals within 30 days through the Bucharest Court of Appeal. However, the appeals process is often lengthy and costly, making compliance the more practical option for most operators.
Regulatory Response to Audit Findings
This enforcement action follows heightened scrutiny of Romania’s gambling sector. Earlier this year, the Court of Accounts revealed significant compliance and oversight failures at the ONJN, estimating that up to RON 3.6 billion (nearly $1 billion) in license and authorization fees may have gone undeclared between 2019 and 2023.
The audit findings prompted political debate and proposals for stricter regulations, including potential gambling expenditure caps for players. The blocking of 30 sites demonstrates the regulator’s commitment to rebuilding credibility and creating a level playing field for licensed operators.
Market Protection Measures
Black-market gambling sites undermine fair competition by avoiding taxes and offering bonuses that exceed regulatory limits. Licensed gambling operators in Romania have long argued that unregulated platforms damage market integrity while drawing players away from compliant sites.
“This enforcement action reflects increased regulatory scrutiny following recent reports of oversight failures in Romania’s gambling market,” said industry observers. The move aims to protect licensed operators and ensure tax revenue flows to the state budget as required.
Ongoing Regulatory Reform
Romanian authorities recently introduced new measures to govern the gambling industry, including raising the gambling tax to 27% on annual Gross Gaming Revenue and increasing consumer taxes to 4% on gambling winnings. The ONJN has also requested social media platforms Meta and Google to remove advertising campaigns promoting unregulated gambling sites to Romanian consumers.
The regulator maintains a comprehensive blacklist of unlicensed gambling websites on its official website, which now contains over 1,400 domain names. Since beginning its blocking program in 2015 ahead of regulated online gambling introduction, the ONJN has regularly updated its enforcement actions against unlicensed operators.
About ONJN
The National Office for Gambling (ONJN) serves as Romania’s primary gambling regulator, overseeing licensing and compliance for both online and land-based gaming operations across the country.
