Romania has raised the tax on gambling winnings from 3% to 4%. The change took effect on August 1, 2025 and aims to reduce the budget deficit. Check out our article on the new Romanian gambling tax laws and how they affect players.

History of Romania’s Gambling Laws

While online gambling in Romania was legalized in 2010, the regulatory body — the National Gambling Office (ONJN) — wasn’t established until 2013.

During the UEFA Euro 2020 championship, the country saw a surge of operators applying for licenses. Residents wanted to bet on events, and suppliers took interest in the growing market.

New operators would apply for licenses at least once a month in the following years, so the government had to improve its laws. For example, the annual license fee was increased to €20,000, while responsible gambling fees increased to €150,000. In light of this, a rise in the winnings tax to 4% was not unexpected.

The New Winnings Tax

From August 1, 2025, Romanian players will be taxed 4% on any gambling winnings up to 10,000 lei under Law 141/2025. For example, if a player won 10,000 lei, they would now only have 9,600 lei after taxes.

Winnings above this cap up to 66,750 lei will be taxed at 400 lei + 20% of the excess over 10,000. While any amount exceeding 66,750 lei will incur a tax of 11,750 lei plus 40% of the excess. Here is an outline of the new taxation:

While the original plan called for an increase of up to 10%, it was ultimately limited to just 4%. However, the lack of a lower threshold means even small winnings will be taxed. Meanwhile, online operators must pay a 27% tax on their gross gaming revenue, while land-based ones will pay 23%.

Romania’s Budget Deficit

A significant reason for this increase is that Romania is facing a budget deficit. That is partly caused by the ONJN failing to fulfil its duties, costing the country $1 billion in lost revenue from 2019 to 2023.

The Court of Auditors published a report in February. It stated that the ONJN provided licenses without enforcing the legal requirements.

The ONJN did not properly monitor the operators and could not verify the revenue numbers they disclosed. Many operators had not paid the full authorization fee, so now the government must fulfil a deficit target of 7% of the GDP.

This follows a wider trend, as many other EU countries aim to limit loopholes and crack down on the gray market.

Ban on Celebrity Endorsements in Gambling Ads

Aside from the new tax, the Romanian gambling industry will also face new advertisement restrictions starting in October. The country’s National Audiovisual Council (CNA) has prohibited the broadcast of celebrity endorsements for gambling. While this includes TV, radio, and online ads, it permits billboards as they fall under parliamentary jurisdiction.

Some critics have expressed concerns over the definition of a celebrity. However, the CNA has stated it will use the same standards as the operators.

The Industry’s Concerns

While the government is eager to implement these laws, operators have expressed concern about these changes. Some believe it’s unfair for the government to punish players and the industry for its mistakes. Others are concerned that this will push players towards the illegal market.

Even when compared to Germany’s tax system, it appears more burdensome as Germany does not impose taxes on winnings. Romania’s Economic and Social Council is also concerned that this will negatively impact the private sector.

Conclusion

As the law was recently implemented, how it will affect the industry remains to be seen. While it may help recover the deficit, it could have unwanted consequences on the industry.