Can I bet or gamble if I'm under 18?
No: the minimum age for gambling and betting is 18. In Romania, to take part in gambling (including sports betting, online casino), you must be at least 18. Minors aren't allowed to play, and ONJN (the National Gambling Office) requires operators to verify the identity of every player, to prevent minors' access (and money laundering). Gambling is a state monopoly and can only be organised by licensed operators. Note: there are bills proposing to raise the minimum age to 21 and restrict advertising — but these are not yet in force, so the legal threshold remains, for now, 18. In short: under 18, gambling and betting are banned.
📋 The rules
- Minimum age for gambling/betting: 18
- Minors aren't allowed to play
- Operators verify players' identity
- Only ONJN-licensed operators (state monopoly)
- Bill to raise to 21: not yet in force
🔓 Exceptions
- Operators must refuse minors' access to agencies
- Games without an ONJN licence: illegal
- The 21-age bill and ad restrictions: just a proposal
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Allowing minors' access to gambling is sanctioned: ONJN has fined operators that allowed minors in agencies (e.g. 25,000 lei for several minors found in an agency). Betting or games organised by an operator without an ONJN licence are illegal and bring fines (usually 5,000–10,000 lei and more), since the field is a state monopoly. To stay compliant: if you're under 18, you can't take part in gambling; if you're an operator, verify players' ID and refuse minors' access; and as an adult player, choose only ONJN-licensed operators. Note that the bill to raise the age to 21 is, for now, just a proposal, not in force.
📎 Official sources
- GEO 77/2009 on organising gambling →
- ONJN · National Gambling Office →
- Play Responsibly · preventing minors' gambling →
❓ Frequently asked
From what age can I bet in Romania?
The minimum age to take part in gambling, including sports betting and online casino, is 18. Minors aren't allowed to play. Operators are required to verify the identity of every player, to prevent access by people under 18 to gambling.
Will the age be raised to 21?
There are bills proposing to raise the minimum gambling age to 21 and to restrict online advertising. These proposals aren't yet in force, though, so the legal threshold remains, for now, 18. Until a law is passed, the current rule is age 18.
Must operators ask for my ID?
Yes. Betting houses and online casinos are required by the state to verify the identity of every player, to prevent minors' access and money laundering. If you look young, you can be asked for an ID to prove you've reached 18 before playing.
What do I risk letting minors play, as an operator?
Allowing minors' access to gambling is sanctioned by ONJN. For example, an operator was fined 25,000 lei for several minors found in an agency. Operators have a legal duty to verify the age and refuse access to people under 18 in gambling venues.
Is betting without an ONJN licence legal?
No. Gambling is a state monopoly and can only be organised by operators licensed and authorised by ONJN. Taking part in or organising games through an operator without a licence is illegal and is fined, usually between 5,000 and 10,000 lei, or even more.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “minimum betting age 18”
- “gambling minors banned”
- “onjn player identity verification”
- “gambling age 21 bill”
- “fine operator minors betting”
- “betting without onjn licence”