Bulgaria's gambling industry has raised concerns over the potential impact of proposed advertising restrictions, warning that jobs and future investment could come under pressure.
Industry representatives estimate that around 40,000 people work across the country's gambling and online gaming sector. The figure extends beyond bookmakers, casinos and gaming halls to include programmers, service centres, gaming equipment manufacturers, technicians and businesses providing payments, identity verification, databases and server infrastructure.
The Bulgarian Government is preparing measures to significantly restrict gambling advertising. Separately, Democratic Bulgaria MPs Bozhidar Bozhanov and Ivaylo Mirchev have proposed legislation introducing additional controls on the sector.
Industry representatives argue that tighter advertising rules could make it more difficult for licensed operators to attract customers, affecting revenue and expansion plans.
They also warn that some players could migrate to unlicensed platforms operating from outside Bulgaria. Such operators do not pay Bulgarian licence fees or maintain the same local presence, while online advertising may allow them to continue reaching Bulgarian customers.
The industry believes a shift towards offshore operators could reduce domestic employment, supplier spending and government revenue without necessarily reducing gambling demand.
Regulatory uncertainty is another concern. Companies considering new teams, development centres or other projects may reassess Bulgaria if taxes, fees and operating requirements change frequently, according to industry representatives.
Bulgaria has hosted development operations for international gambling companies including Bet365, Entain, Playtech, Evolution, Pragmatic Play, DraftKings and Flutter.
The concerns come as Bulgaria has experienced job losses across several other industries. Recent closures and restructuring have affected companies including Bosch, Takeaway.com and several manufacturers, although those decisions have been linked to a range of company-specific and global economic factors rather than gambling regulation.
The employment estimate includes technology, payments and other businesses supporting gambling operators
