- Top 3 Foreign Bookmakers in Romania
- About Gambling in Romania
- Sports Betting in Romania
- Available Betting Markets
- Odd Formats
- User Experience
- Bonuses and Promotions
- Betting Features
- Online Casinos in Romania
- Available Payment Methods
- Mobile Betting
- Safety and Security
- Customer Support
- FAQs
- Interesting facts
- Betting Restrictions
- Conclusion
Which are the TOP bookmakers in Romania and where to bet safely?
The bettors in Romania have the chance to choose from licensed bookmakers which operates in a regulated market. That means the law will protect them from frauds and illegal actions by the betting websites. In order to help you with the choice, we provide a table with the leading online bookmakers in Romania.
- Population: Based on 2019 data, Romania has an estimated population of about 19.36 million people within its borders. This makes it the 61st most populated country worldwide.
- Active players: Out of the 19.36 million people in Romania, about 7,360,000 are active gamblers which makes up about 45% of the entire population.
- Currency: Romania is an independent European Country with the Romanian Leu as its currency. Although the Euro is accepted, most legal betting sites in Romania accept Leu for their payment methods.
- Regulated Gambling Products: The Romanian Federal Law that governs the gambling industry in Romania offers to licence for gambling products like Romania sports betting, bingo, casino games, poker, lotteries, and fantasy betting.
- Operator Types: Operators in Romania include foreign online bookies, betting shops, poker rooms, as well as online and land-based casinos.
- Designated Authority: The designated authority for controlling gambling in the country is the Romanian National Gambling Office (ONJN).
- Status: The European Commission Laws demand the online gambling market not to be regulated.
Top 3 Foreign Bookmakers in Romania
Unibet
First established in 1997, Unibet has grown to become one of the most popular and most significant operating online casinos, with over 6 million registered users. The Unibet company is part of the Kindred Group that launched a casino/bingo website that purely targets the Romanian market.
Unibet is a go-to site for Romanians seeking a reliable international bookmaker. It offers a wide array of betting markets, including sports betting, online casino, live casino, poker, and bingo.
888Sport
Being in the betting industry for so long, 888sport is one of the oldest bookmakers that offer online betting services to Romanian players. The bookmaker’s primary focus is football, and it provides Romanian citizens with the opportunity to stream the English Premier League. Nonetheless, they also have an extensive collection of markets covering multiple sports, including football, Romania golf, and cricket in Romania.
The 888sport website is straightforward to use and navigate. Players can browse through various options including a pre-match, live betting, or in play. Another great feature of this website is that they offer numerous promotions and huge wagering limits in Romania. Plus, they pay customers very fast. However, their markets are considered to be British or Irish-centric.
Bet365
First founded in 2000, Bet365 is a UK-based betting operator. Unlike traditional bookmakers, Bet365 have good conditions for new and existing players also. As a result, punters get better odds at smaller margins than those of traditional bookmakers.
Aside from sportsbook, it has a diverse range of betting markets like online casino, poker, live casino, arcade, bingo, exchange games, and Vegas slots.
Essential Things to Know about Betting Sites in Romania
- Betting Environment
Since becoming a democratic state in 1989, Romania became a betting-friendly country. Since then, Romania has managed to maintain a favourable betting environment for online gambling. While there are a few restrictions in place, they have not been actively enforced. This is evident with the large following of active players who take up to 45% of the population. - Competition
Currently, there are 16 licenced online bookies in Romania. While this is not a very large number of gambling establishments, there is still a high level of competition in the Romanian gambling market. The country does not have very strict laws, and anyone can provide offline gambling services.
However, the recent gambling rules in Romania have seen betting brands like Stanleybet and Bet shop dominate both the online and offline markets since 2009. Bookies like 888 bet, Bwin Romania, Unibet, and Winmaster Romania have also obtained a licence to operate in Romania. - Operators
Not taking into consideration the various foreign gambling operators, there are two types of licence offered by the National Gambling Office to local operators.
Class 1 Licence – this is given to those offering sports betting, online poker, fantasy betting, online bingo, casino gaming, and lotteries.
Class 2 Licence – this is given to businesses that provide products/services to licenced gambling operators like software, hosting services, certification labs, and more. - Active Players
As of 2019, the active player base in Romania is estimated to be over 7.3 million. These are people who engage in legal gambling products like poker, sports betting, bingo, and lotteries. - Key Info for Players in Romania
Romania is an independent European country that is based in Eastern Europe. Romania fell under the Soviet occupation after the Second World War, causing it to become a communist state. Under communist rule, gambling was heavily prohibited.
However, when the previous regime collapsed, and Romania became an independent state, gambling became part of the local culture. In 2003, Romania opened up its sports betting market to international companies – the first one being Stanleybet which is a UK-based company.
Over the years, the Romania sports betting industry has developed and attracted 45% of the population. These active players bet on online bookmakers or land-based shops at least once every week. The number of land-based shops is growing with football in Romania being the most popular sport to bet on. - Gambling Taxes and Players’ Safety
Previously, Romania levied a 25% tax for gambling winnings. This was, however, amended in 2019, with the changes being based on the Romanian Fiscal Code. Online operators levy a 1% tax for winnings that are below 15,000 Euro.
Punters who win more than 15,000 Euro but less than 100,000 Euro are taxed 16%. Meanwhile, punters who earn more than 100,000 Euro are levied with a 25% tax. Also, the 2019 amendments led to the implementation of 2% tax for online operators and 3% tax for those in the retail sector. The taxable amount is based on the deposits.
When it comes to the safety of players, the Romanian government doesn’t have much control over it. This is because the EU expects that all countries accept international countries.
Sports Betting in Romania: An Overview
Sports betting and other gambling activities in Romania have been legalized just recently. This was after the overthrowing of the past regime which prohibited the act of gambling until 1990. After the legalization of gambling in the country, the sports betting market was liberalized, thus opening up the market to foreign operators.
Football Betting
Football arguably is the most popular not only in Romania but also around the world. This sport enjoys a significant following in Romania, and online bookmakers provide a plethora of both local and international games to bet on.
Available Betting Markets in Most Bookmakers
Most bookmakers like 888sport offer an extensive selection of betting market for odds. This includes Accumulators, Asian Handicap, Anytime Goal Scorer, First Goal Scorer, and Draw No Bet.
What Kind of Odd Formats is Used in Romania?
As a European country, Romania uses the famous decimal one odd format. Decimal odds are used by most sports punters due to their ease of use and the fact that they estimate potential wins effortlessly.
To calculate the potential win, you multiply the sum of what you have wagered by the specific odds. If you bet 100 Euro and the odds are 3.55, your potential winning could be 355 euro.
User Experience
The user experience is an essential factor for both online and land-based operators. For online bookmakers, they strive to gain a competitive advantage over other operators by enhancing the gambling experience for players.
They do this by improving their website’s interface, site speed, and customer support. Also, land-based operators who are controlled by the government offer exceptional user experience.
Bonuses and Promotions for Players in Romania
Just like in any other country, there is constant competition between Romania online betting sites. To win new customers and retain their market share, most bettors offer a great number of bonuses and promotions. Most will have promotions such as the signup offer which is given to new customers when they sign up or make their first deposit.
Existing punters also get bonuses such as enhanced ACCAs to encourage them to continue playing. Furthermore, punters can get free betting in Romania, free spin on various slot machines, higher odds for multiple matches, and free gifts for betting on various events.
Live Betting, Live Streaming,& Cash-Out Features
Most foreign operators that accept Romanian players usually have live betting, live streaming, and cash-out features. These features are aimed at improving the betting experience for players. For instance, bookmakers like 888Sport and Unibet offer live betting, which allows users to make bets using odds that often change in real-time.
These bookmakers also provide live streaming features so that Romanian punters can watch the match and make a bet through the site. The cash-out option allows punters to leave the bet early before the event ends, especially if they are certain they might lose. Bookmakers like 888Sport, Unibet, and Betway also have this feature.
Online Casinos in Romania
Online casinos are popular throughout the world, and Romania is no exception. Online casinos are legal in Romania and have a large following than other traditional gaming establishments. There are numerous betting sites licenced to provide online casinos to Romanian punters. Players get to enjoy a wide range of games such as slot games, live casino events, and card games like blackjack and poker.
Available Methods for Withdrawals and Deposits
Romanian punters enjoy an extensive selection of payment methods that are not only efficient but also very effective. Bettors can withdraw and deposit money from their online accounts with ease.
The most commonly accepted payment methods include MasterCard and VISA credit and debit cards. Alternatively, there are other reliable options like PaySafeCard, e-wallets like Skrill and Neteller, cryptocurrencies, as well as bank transfers. However, punters should know that while all the different options are free and instant, bank transfers may take a few days to complete the processing.
Also, Romanian Leu (RON) is not accepted in most international gambling sites. Therefore, punters should first convert it before betting. Since this can be costly, doing adequate research on various betting sites is vital so that they can find sites with the best payment methods.
Mobile Betting and Betting Apps
Nowadays, most bookmakers provide players with the opportunity to bet online even when they are far from their computers. With advancements in technology and an increasingly growing demand for mobile phones, bookmakers are now creating mobile versions for their websites. Romanian bookmakers have not been left behind, and most of them have Romania betting apps that can be downloaded on Android, Apple, and Windows devices.
Reliable sports betting venues have a fully customizable interface for their Romania mobile app version. This way, bettors can get to enjoy an exceptional betting experience like they would in their desktops. These apps come in a mobile-friendly version which is easy to navigate. Some bookmakers give players a bonus when they make their first bet using a mobile device.
Safety and Security
Romania is part of the EU, and for this reason, it’s required to open up its market to international operators. Consequently, the Romanian government has limited control over online betting activities in Romania and the safety of punters. Nonetheless, the quality of gambling in the Romanian borders is of high quality which is reliable enough for punters.
Is Customer Support Good Enough for Players from Romania?
Online casinos and betting sites are, no doubt, top-rated in Romania. It is estimated that Romanians will spend over 1.2 billion in the gambling market in 2019. As a lucrative market for gambling, sportsbook, and casino brands, the Romanian government is paying high regard to Romanian players. Players can experience exceptional customer support and get to enjoy both mobile and web-based support.
FAQS
Which are the best-paying sites in Romania?
888sport is considered as a great betting site due to its high, competitive odds and numerous betting promotions. Other well-paying sites include Betfair, Unibet, and Svenbet.
What are the best live betting sites in Romania?
Unibet is a great betting site when it comes to live odds and live betting in Romania. This site provides a wide selection of bets, high odds, and a cash-out feature, which makes it great for those who love live betting.
Another site is 888sport which is known for its live betting feature. The site will give you the option to choose the game and market you want. In addition to providing players with the best odds, they also offer betting tips in Romania.
Is online betting legal in Romania?
Yes, online sports betting is legal in Romania. The act of gambling was legalized in the country, and this saw the increase of licenced betting companies offering a variety of betting options.
Are Romanian players taxed for their winnings?
Winnings from Romania are taxed. A 1% tax is charged for winnings below 15,000 Euro while a 16% tax is charged for winnings starting from 15,000 to 100,000 Euros. Online operators withhold a tax of 25% for winnings above 100,000 Euros.
What is the legal gambling age in Romania?
The legal age to gamble in Romania is 18 years. When betting in an online casino or sportsbook, a user will be required to submit his documents to verify his age.
Do online sports betting sites accept RON?
Since the Romanian betting market accommodates both domestic and international operators, there may be online betting sites that accept Romanian Leu (RON). Players can place their bets in Leu which is then converted to either EUR, USD, or GBP. Sites that accept RON exempt players from paying conversion fees so that they can have more money to gamble with.
Is bet exchange legal in Romania?
Yes, bet exchanges are legal in Romania. Betfair is an example of a licenced bet exchange that accepts Romanian players.
Interesting facts (Did you know that...)
- Romanian citizens spend over 1.2 billion a year at over 12,000 betting halls both online and offline.
- In Romania, there are over 30,000 gaming venues compared to only 18,300 churches.
- Football betting, slot machines, and poker are the most popular forms of gambling in Romania.
- In Romania, 1.5 million people gamble on slot machines regularly.
- Dice was the earliest form of gambling in the country which was mostly played by Roman soldiers.
Are there any Restrictions for Players from Romania?
The Romanian betting market is free, and players can bet on different sites. However, some bookmakers prefer not to apply for a licence even as the government imposed the tax back and demanded that the betting operators maintain a physical presence in the nation.
Also, most unlicensed bookmakers may inhibit Romanian bettors from creating accounts with them. The other restriction may come because some sites don’t recognise the local currency.
Conclusion
The Romanian betting market had grown to become a more open and accepting environment than it was when the country was under communist dictatorship. Despite numerous attempts by the government to try and regulate online betting, Romanian citizens are still able to access offshore betting sites from other EU countries.
Besides, the number of punters opting to bet online is increasing, and this is likely to grow the betting market. It is also without doubt that gambling has created employment opportunities with 1.2 billion collected as revenue from this industry. Nonetheless, there is room for improvement as most sites don’t accept the local Romanian currency and also don’t provide their services in the Romanian language.
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