Bulgaria's Cabinet has approved draft Gambling Act amendments that would prohibit advertising for gambling games, operators and their associated logos. The Council of Ministers adopted the package on 11 November, advancing a proposal that the Government first put out for public discussion in September. The measures still require parliamentary approval before they can take effect.
The proposed ban is broad, although operators would retain limited brand visibility through sponsorship of sports clubs, federations, associations and organisations. The draft also allows branding tied to support for culture, health and education.
The Cabinet said the change is intended to reduce the risk of gambling addiction, particularly among vulnerable groups.
Affiliate operators are covered separately. The amendments would end their activity, aligning the treatment of businesses that promote gambling with the proposed advertising restrictions. The Cabinet's readout did not set out a transition plan for existing affiliate arrangements.
The package would also revise costs across the sector. A one-off state fee to maintain a licence for manufacturing, distributing or servicing gaming equipment would be €50,000 ($55,635) for five years and €100,000 for 10 years.
The alternative tax on land-based casinos and gaming halls would rise in 2027, then be replaced by a two-part state fee from 2028.
For online betting licences, the variable part of a proposed two-part state fee would be at least €100,000 a month. Foreign companies offering online betting in Bulgaria would need a local business establishment. The Cabinet said that requirement would help authorities compare stakes, winnings, revenue and costs with declared tax liabilities.
The draft would increase some one-off gambling licence fees, responsible gambling contributions and financial penalties. It also provides for gambling addiction prevention in schools through information campaigns, programmes and teaching materials.
Banks, payment institutions and electronic money firms handling gambling payments or winnings would have to make a mandatory financial contribution.
The Cabinet decision moves the package beyond consultation, but it does not make the restrictions law. Parliament must consider the bill, and the Government has not specified a start date for the proposed advertising ban.
In October, the National Council for Tripartite Cooperation backed the draft gambling package while employer groups raised reservations about its advertising restrictions and financial obligations.
The existing gambling advertising rules date from 2024, when Bulgaria introduced restrictions across broadcast, print, online and public-space channels
