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The world's biggest online poker room — plus casino and sports, under Flutter Entertainment
Visit PokerStars →PokerStars welcome bonus in Romania
Context for Romania: Romania's check runs the opposite way to most people's instinct, and getting it backwards is the common mistake. The ONJN publishes both a blacklist of unlicensed domains and a WHITE LIST of licensed operators - Class I for operators, Class II for suppliers - and only the white list makes play lawful. A site being absent from the blacklist proves nothing: you will probably still be able to reach it, but playing there is unlawful unless it appears on the white list. The blacklist is large and actively enforced - 1,546 domains have been ordered blocked by ISPs, and Polymarket was added on 29 October 2025. Check any operator against the Class I list at onjn.gov.ro before depositing rather than trusting a licence badge or an affiliate page, this one included. The market is also tightening fast: Law 141/2025, in force from 1 August 2025, raised the annual authorisation tax from 21% to 30% of gross gaming revenue and the minimum annual fee from EUR 400,000 to EUR 480,000; operators need a permanent establishment in Romania and, where their servers sit abroad, mirror servers on Romanian soil giving ONJN real-time access. Advertising rules are moving too - celebrity and influencer endorsements are already banned across TV, radio and social media, Bucharest is removing gambling publicity from city-controlled outdoor sites from 1 January 2026, and the regulator's 2026 agenda proposes raising the gambling age from 18 to 21 plus restricting online promotions between 06:00 and midnight.
Here is the current PokerStars welcome offer for players in Romania. Bonus terms change and are set by PokerStars for each market — always confirm the live offer on its own site. See every licensed betting site in Romania →
Pros
- World's largest online poker room, with unmatched traffic and tournaments
- Part of NYSE/LSE-listed Flutter Entertainment — very strong regulation and oversight
- Licensed by the UKGC, Malta and many European national regulators
- Big casino (400+ games) with live dealer, plus polished apps
- Fast e-wallet withdrawals (often ~24 hours)
Cons
- The sportsbook is a secondary product — not as deep as specialist books
- Welcome offer is market- and product-specific and varies
- No cryptocurrency payments
- Only available where it holds a local licence
Our verdict
PokerStars is the world's largest online poker room and, since 2020, part of NYSE/LSE-listed Flutter Entertainment — so on trust and regulation (UKGC, Malta and a long list of European national licences) it's about as safe as the industry gets. Its casino is big and its apps are polished. The honest caveat for a betting site: the sportsbook is a secondary product rather than a specialist book, so if pure sports betting is your priority, the dedicated sportsbooks go deeper. But if you want poker and casino with a heavyweight licence — and a decent sportsbook alongside — PokerStars is a strong, trustworthy pick where it holds a local licence.
How we rated it
Trust & licensing (20%)9.2
Part of NYSE/LSE-listed Flutter Entertainment and licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, Malta and many European national regulators — one of the most heavily regulated brands in the sector.
Mobile & UX (10%)8.6
Mature, well-rated poker, casino and sports apps on iOS and Android, plus desktop poker clients.
Payments & payouts (20%)8.4
Cards plus e-wallets (PayPal, Skrill, Neteller); e-wallet withdrawals are often processed within about 24 hours. No cryptocurrency.
Customer support (10%)8.2
24/7 live chat and email, localised per market; generally responsive.
Bonuses & value (15%)7.9
Fair welcome offers per market (poker, casino or sports), but the exact amount and terms vary by country and change over time.
Sportsbook & odds (25%)7.8
PokerStars Sports exists in some markets with solid core coverage and cash out, but the sportsbook is clearly secondary to poker and casino — depth and market breadth trail the specialist books.
Quick facts
| Founded | 2001 (Scheinberg family) |
| Owner | Flutter Entertainment (NYSE/LSE: FLUT), since 2020 |
| Licensing | UK Gambling Commission, Malta, plus national EU licences (Germany, France, Spain, Sweden and more) |
| Poker | World's largest online poker room — cash games, tournaments, apps + desktop clients |
| Casino | 400+ games — slots, table games, live casino (Pragmatic, Play'n GO, Evolution) |
| Sports | PokerStars Sports in some markets (secondary to poker/casino) |
| Payments | Cards, e-wallets (PayPal/Skrill/Neteller); e-wallets ~24h. No crypto |
| Apps | iOS & Android (poker, casino, sports) + desktop poker clients |
How we verified this
PokerStars is part of NYSE/LSE-listed Flutter Entertainment (FLUT) and licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, Malta and multiple European national regulators (Germany, France, Spain, Sweden and more). Its welcome bonus is market-specific and changes, so it is shown qualitatively. Confirm the current offer and your local licence on your own PokerStars site.
Where PokerStars is licensed
PokerStars appears on the official register in 15 countries. Highlighted countries have a full local review — pick yours for its welcome bonus and licence details.
Europe (13)
About PokerStars
PokerStars was founded in 2001 by Isai and Mark Scheinberg and grew into the world's largest online poker room, controlling a majority of the global online-poker market. Since 2020 it has been part of Flutter Entertainment, the NYSE/LSE-listed group that also owns Betfair, Paddy Power and FanDuel. Alongside poker it runs a casino and, in some markets, a sportsbook, operating country by country under local licences — the UK, Germany, France, Spain, Sweden and more.
PokerStars FAQ
Is PokerStars safe and legit?
Yes — PokerStars is part of NYSE/LSE-listed Flutter Entertainment and licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, Malta and many European national regulators. It is one of the most heavily regulated brands in online gambling. Only play where PokerStars holds a local licence for your country.
Does PokerStars have a sportsbook?
Yes, in some markets — PokerStars Sports offers the major sports with a bet builder and cash out. But it is a secondary product to PokerStars' poker and casino, so dedicated sportsbooks generally go deeper on markets and odds.
What is the PokerStars welcome bonus?
PokerStars offers a new-customer welcome offer in each licensed market — for poker, casino or sports depending on where you are. The exact amount and terms vary by country and change over time, so always check the current offer on your local PokerStars site before claiming.
Does PokerStars accept crypto?
No. PokerStars uses regulated local payment methods — cards and e-wallets such as PayPal, Skrill and Neteller — rather than cryptocurrency.