Interview with Andriy Kolomiyets, Founder of Casinolegal.ro

The Romanian online casino market is widely recognized as one of the most strictly regulated in Europe. For affiliates entering this space, the barrier to entry is quite high, demanding complete compliance, transparency, and a genuine commitment to player safety. Navigating this landscape is the newly launched Casinolegal.ro, an independent media project operated by the UK-based FATBOYSCANRUN LTD.

To understand the strategy behind launching a premium affiliate portal in such a complex market, we sat down with Andriy Kolomiyets, the founder of Casinolegal.ro. With over 15 years of industry experience across major brands like Sportradar and Spribe, Andriy brings a wealth of knowledge to the table. Joining the conversation are Baicu Marius, Editor-in-Chief and a veteran of the Romanian iGaming space, and Marius Vlad, Director of Commercial.

In this interview, we discuss the widespread mistakes affiliates make, the hidden metrics of success, the impact of AI on content creation, and why doing things the hard way is sometimes the only viable strategy.

1. The Romanian iGaming market is highly saturated with established affiliates. Andriy, why enter the market now, and what gap did you see that others were ignoring? 

Andriy Kolomiyets: We saw a massive gap in player trust. Right now, Romanian players are fatigued by traditional affiliate landing pages that provide zero actual value and exist solely to force a quick conversion. The market is saturated, yes, but it is saturated with poor user experiences. We take a completely different approach. We don’t bombard visitors with aggressive banners the second they open our site. Instead, we step back to educate. We focus heavily on beginners who might not know how to distinguish an ONJN-licensed legal site from a dangerous pirated one. We explain the pitfalls, analyze the pros and cons objectively, and put responsible gambling front and center.

2. Obtaining the Class II ONJN license is a famously rigorous process. How difficult was this for a UK-based company to navigate? 

Andriy Kolomiyets: It is difficult, but I have always believed in doing things by the book, no matter how much time or money it takes. Romania is one of the safest and best-regulated online casino markets globally, which aligns perfectly with the mission of our company, Fatboyscanrun Ltd. We went through the entire licensing process without any shortcuts. Working with a highly professional lawyer in Bucharest, we gathered all our documents from Liverpool, translated them, registered for a tax identification code with ANAF, and finally submitted our application. We were officially granted the Class II ONJN license starting with 1st April, 2026 (licence number L2264837Y001720 according to D.ONJN nr. 166 / 27 March 2026).

3. Beyond the paperwork, there is a significant financial commitment to operating legally in Romania. Was it worth it? 

Andriy Kolomiyets: Absolutely. As a licensed affiliate in Romania, we pay a €20,000 annual licensing fee, plus an additional mandatory €15,000 contribution to support initiatives against gambling addiction. We paid all these fees in full. To some, €35,000 in upfront regulatory costs might seem steep for an affiliate, but to us, it is a statement of intent. It proves we are completely invested in this market for the long haul. You cannot demand trust from players if you are not willing to invest in the legal framework that protects them.

4. Baicu Marius, drawing from your experience building new projects, what is the biggest mistake you see new affiliate sites making in Romania today? 

Baicu Marius: The most common mistake is heavily underestimating the modern Romanian player. A decade ago, a flashy welcome bonus was all it took to convert a user. Today, players are incredibly well-informed. They actively research the operator’s reputation, withdrawal speeds, the strictness of KYC requirements, and specific promotional terms. For example, instead of blindly claiming an offer, they want to understand the exact mechanics and benefits of a cashback reward, a topic we cover extensively at https://casinolegal.ro/cazinouri/bonusuri/bonus-cashback. Many new affiliates assume they can just publish generic marketing fluff, but users instantly recognize content that lacks authenticity. If you let short-term commercial interests dictate your editorial voice, you will fail. You have to prioritize long-term credibility, even when your conclusions are not favorable to the operator. 

5. What is an unpopular opinion you hold about the online casino industry that most of your competitors would disagree with? 

Andriy Kolomiyets: My unpopular opinion is that if a website generates massive conversions but harms people in the process, it is a fundamentally bad business. Many affiliates in this industry operate with a "churn and burn" mentality - chasing the highest commission regardless of the casino's ethical standards. I strongly oppose that. We would much rather lose a conversion than send a vulnerable player to an operator with predatory bonus terms. In the short term, prioritizing ethics over aggressive sales funnels might cost us clicks, but it is the only way to build an unbreakable bond of trust with our community.

6. Marius Vlad, from a commercial standpoint, how do you handle operators who push for better placement or positive reviews in exchange for higher commissions?

Marius Vlad: It is very simple: we establish firm boundaries from the first meeting. Our commercial team secures the partnerships, but our editorial verdicts are simply not for sale. I explain to operators that they are paying for access to a highly educated, sustainable audience. A player who signs up after reading an honest, transparent review from our team is a player who understands the rules, knows what to expect regarding withdrawal times, and won't abandon the platform out of frustration. We sell quality, high-retention traffic, not fake positive reviews. If an operator doesn't respect that separation of church and state, we do not work with them.

7. Responsible gambling is often just a required footer link for many affiliates. Andriy, how is Casinolegal.ro practically different in its approach? 

Andriy Kolomiyets: We build the entire user experience with responsible gambling in mind. It is not an afterthought or a hidden link. You will see age restrictions and clear responsibility warnings multiple times across every single page. Our authors are strictly forbidden from using manipulative language. We make sure to explicitly teach players that gambling is purely a form of paid entertainment. You pay to participate by making a deposit, you must be prepared to lose it, and you should never risk more than you would comfortably spend on a beer in a bar. We also thoroughly explain how self-exclusion mechanisms work.

8. Baicu Marius, AI is currently flooding the iGaming affiliate space with mass-produced content. Where does AI help your team, and where do you draw the line? 

Baicu Marius: AI is an excellent operational tool for data organization and syntax checking, but its value in iGaming is vastly oversold by those looking for a shortcut. AI cannot simulate real journalistic expertise or practical testing. Because operators change their terms constantly, maintaining accuracy requires a very strict human editorial workflow. We rely on thorough fact-checking, legal compliance verification, and final quality control (QA). Our reviews are based on what truly matters to players: withdrawal speed, real KYC efficiency, and licensing. AI cannot feel the frustration of a delayed withdrawal. We choose deep, practical, human analysis over automated texts every single time.

9. Andriy, you frequently mention building a "community." How do you plan to transition visitors from just reading a review to actively trusting the brand? 

Andriy Kolomiyets: We prove that we are always on the player's side. Anyone can leave a verified review or a complaint about a specific casino directly on Casinolegal.ro. If a player encounters an issue, our team steps in and does everything possible to clarify and resolve the problem with the operator. If a casino consistently refuses to treat players fairly, their rating on our site will drop. When users see that we actively fight for them and hold operators accountable, they stop being just casual readers and become loyal members of our community.

10. Marius Vlad, what is the most unglamorous, behind-the-scenes part of the commercial operations that players never see?

Marius Vlad: The most unglamorous part is the relentless compliance auditing. People assume the commercial department just signs contracts and cashes checks. In reality, a huge portion of my day is spent verifying that our partners are actively honoring the promotional terms they promised to our players. If an operator silently changes a wagering requirement without notifying us, it jeopardizes Casinolegal’s credibility. Maintaining a trustworthy platform requires constant audits, tracking regulatory shifts, and occasionally having very uncomfortable conversations with major brands to ensure our audience is protected.

11. Andriy, instead of using a centralized international team, you hired local Romanian experts. Why was this local footprint so crucial? 

Andriy Kolomiyets: You cannot build authentic trust in a local market using translated texts written by people who don't understand the culture. We only work with the best local professionals. That is why we partnered with Marius Baicu as our Editor-in-Chief and Marius Vlad as Director of Commercial. We also brought on Delcea Eduard, a senior author with deep expertise in online casino reviews, sports betting, and eSports. Nicolae Petre Mihai handles our dynamic video production for YouTube and Instagram, and Andrei Ionuț Roșu oversees content publication and quality. This local team guarantees that our content is culturally relevant, accurate, and trustworthy.

12. Looking closely at the Romanian landscape, what is something you deliberately chose not to chase or build, even though competitors are doing it? 

Andriy Kolomiyets: We deliberately chose not to operate in the gray market. It would have been incredibly easy and much cheaper to set up an unlicensed portal, avoid the €35,000 in local fees, and promote offshore casinos that pay massive commissions. Many affiliates take this shortcut. We completely rejected that path. We focus exclusively on operators licensed by the ONJN. We also chose to eliminate aggressive conversion funnels and pop-ups. We might leave money on the table in the short term, but it heavily protects our identity and editorial integrity.

13. What is the most misunderstood aspect of casino bonuses among beginners today? 

Baicu Marius: The most misunderstood aspect remains the wagering requirement. Many beginners see a massive headline for a "10,000 RON Bonus" and assume it is free cash they can immediately withdraw. They rarely read the complex terms and conditions. Our primary goal is to break these terms down into simple, accessible language. We explain exactly what they are getting into, what games contribute to the rollover, and what the time limits are. If a bonus looks great on paper but has predatory, impossible conditions hidden in the fine print, we state that clearly.

14. Andriy, on a personal note, out of all the emerging markets globally, why does Romania hold a special appeal for you? 

Andriy Kolomiyets: I have been in the gambling industry for 15 years, and over that time, I have visited Romania numerous times. I know the country very well. A defining moment for me was visiting as a football fan in June 2021 for the Austria - Ukraine match at the European Championship. I completely fell in love with the people, the incredible atmosphere in Bucharest, and, of course, the amazing Romanian food! Building a premium platform here is not just a calculated business decision; it is a market I genuinely respect and deeply enjoy being a part of.

15. Looking back 12 months from now, what has to happen for you to consider the launch of Casinolegal.ro in Romania a total success? 

Andriy Kolomiyets: Success means that the Romanian market treats Casinolegal.ro as an absolute reference point, standing shoulder to shoulder with established local giants, rather than viewing us as just another affiliate page. We are actively building a verified review database for every online casino in Romania, gathering the richest catalog of bonus offers, and heavily optimizing our site’s speed and performance. If the public finds our transparent, legal, and player-first approach valuable enough to engage with our community, that is the ultimate definition of success for me.

16. Looking beyond Romania, what are the next steps for Fatboyscanrun Ltd, and are there new international markets or verticals on your roadmap?

Andriy Kolomiyets: In the coming months, we plan to launch casino platforms in Greece, Spain, Portugal, and Peru. Across all these target markets, we will follow the exact same blueprint we established in Romania: building dedicated teams with local expertise and ensuring we fully satisfy every legal and licensing requirement before going live. Additionally, we are preparing to launch a Counter-Strike (CS) skins project in multiple languages. We will launch initially in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, followed by Romanian and other languages later on. It is an exciting, highly localized expansion plan built entirely on compliance.