Bulgaria launches Gambling Act review after rejecting tax and ad restrictions
2026-07-23
Source: Global Gaming Insider
Bulgaria's Ministry of Finance has started a comprehensive review of the Gambling Act after rejecting opposition proposals to raise taxes and tighten advertising, with Deputy Minister Lyudmila Petkova warning that higher taxes could drive players to the unlicensed market, which she estimates at about 40% of the sector.
Bulgaria’s Ministry of Finance has initiated a wide-ranging assessment of the country’s Gambling Act, following the rejection of opposition-led proposals to raise taxes and limit advertising further. Deputy Finance Minister Lyudmila Petkova informed the parliamentary Budget Committee that repeated amendments added through unrelated legislation had generated inconsistencies that "could take years to correct."
The review emerged as lawmakers debated changes linked to the 2026 Budget, which included a licensing framework for affiliate operators and a prohibition on payments to unlicensed gaming sites. A proposal from Democratic Bulgaria sought to lift the tax on the difference between stakes and winnings from 20% to 30%, and to double several one-off licensing charges. Petkova opposed the hike, arguing that "higher taxation could push players towards unlicensed operators" and estimating that the illegal market now represents roughly 40% of Bulgaria’s gambling sector. She added that stronger collection mechanisms should precede any further tax increases.
Another proposal from We Continue the Change aimed to ban nearly all remaining gambling advertising, with an exception only for lottery promotions. Bulgaria already imposed sweeping restrictions in May 2024 covering television, radio and online media, though outdoor billboards are still permitted under distance and location rules. Lawmaker Venko Sabrutev noted that delayed secondary regulations weakened enforcement of the billboard rules, including the requirements governing how close ads can be to schools and kindergartens.
The broader review will also address gaps in secondary legislation. Regulations on maximum online playing periods, loss limits, stake caps and protections for players under 24 have not yet been fully enforced, despite amendments passed in 2024. A separate regulation on gambling addiction treatment was published for consultation in March 2026 but has not come into force.
Oversight of gambling now rests with the National Revenue Agency, after the State Gambling Commission was disbanded following a dispute over BGN 559m in alleged unpaid taxes linked to private lotteries run by businessman Vasil Bozhkov. That case remains in court, pending an interpretive ruling from the Supreme Administrative Court.
In April, Bulgaria’s Health Ministry put forward revised funding procedures for addiction treatment and prevention, including additional safeguards for younger and vulnerable individuals.