The Bulgarian Government has appointed Hristo Markov as the new Executive Director of the National Revenue Agency (NRA), following a decision confirmed by the Council of Ministers on 17 November 2025.
Markov steps into the role after more than three decades in the country's revenue administration, succeeding former director Rumen Specsov, who has been named Special Manager of LUKoil.
Markov is regarded as one of the NRA's most experienced senior officials. Prior to this appointment, he served as Deputy Executive Director from early November 2025 and previously led the NRA's Sofia Territorial Directorate.
His career spans a range of management and expert positions, giving him operational insight into tax collection, compliance and regulatory enforcement.
The NRA plays a central role in overseeing Bulgaria's regulated gambling sector, including monitoring operators' compliance with licensing requirements and combating unlicensed activity.
Under its mandate, the agency is responsible for imposing sanctions, issuing enforcement decisions and coordinating with courts and internet service providers to restrict unlawful gambling access.
Recent activity illustrates the scale of the challenge Markov will continue to confront. In 2024, the NRA reported that it had blocked more than 2,500 illegal online gambling websites operating without valid authorisation.
Within a single month, the Executive Director issued nearly 640 suspension orders targeting unlicensed betting platforms. These decisions require operators to cease activity within three days of publication, after which the agency can pursue legal action if sites remain accessible.
The NRA also maintains a public list of prohibited gambling domains and encourages users to report suspicious or unregulated platforms.
Earlier this month, plans to introduce a tax increase on Bulgaria's gambling industry were announced for 2026
