Bulgaria’s Ministry of Finance has begun a comprehensive review of the country’s Gambling Act after rejecting opposition proposals to raise gambling taxes and further restrict advertising.
Deputy Finance Minister Lyudmila Petkova told Parliament’s Budget Committee that repeated amendments introduced through unrelated legislation had created inaccuracies that could take years to correct.
The review was announced as lawmakers considered changes attached to the 2026 Budget, including a licensing system for gambling affiliates and restrictions on payments to unlicensed gambling websites.
Democratic Bulgaria MPs proposed increasing the fee applied to the difference between stakes and winnings from 20% to 30%. The proposals also included doubling certain one-off licensing fees.
Petkova opposed the increase, arguing that higher taxation could push players towards unlicensed operators. She estimated that the grey market currently accounts for about 40% of Bulgaria’s gambling sector and said stronger collection measures should precede further tax increases.
An additional proposal from We Continue the Change sought to prohibit most remaining gambling advertising, except for lottery promotions. Bulgaria introduced extensive restrictions in May 2024 covering television, radio and online media, although outdoor advertising remains permitted under distance and placement conditions.
MP Venko Sabrutev said delayed secondary regulations had weakened enforcement of the billboard rules, including requirements governing the distance between gambling advertisements and schools or kindergartens.
The wider review will also address gaps in secondary legislation. Regulations covering maximum online play periods, loss limits, stake limits and protections for players under 24 have yet to be fully implemented despite amendments passed in 2024.
A separate regulation concerning gambling addiction treatment was published for consultation in March 2026 but has not entered into force.
The National Revenue Agency has overseen gambling regulation since the State Gambling Commission was abolished following a dispute over BGN 559m in allegedly unpaid taxes linked to private lotteries operated by businessman Vasil Bozhkov.
The case remains before the courts, while an interpretative ruling from the Supreme Administrative Court is pending.
In April, Bulgaria’s Health Ministry proposed revised funding procedures for gambling addiction treatment and prevention, including additional protections for younger and vulnerable people.
Bulgaria’s voluntary vulnerable persons register contained nearly 50,000 registrations according to National Revenue Agency data cited by the Health Ministry
