Bulgaria’s Council of Ministers has approved a package of Gambling Act amendments that would impose a near-total ban on gambling advertising, end affiliate marketing and substantially reshape licence fees, taxes and reporting obligations. The government submitted the bill to the National Assembly on Nov. 11, where it requires parliamentary approval before it can become law.
The proposed ban would cover gambling products, operators and related brands across television, radio, print, online platforms, outdoor advertising and other locations. The government has argued that existing restrictions have not sufficiently reduced exposure, particularly among children and vulnerable people, and said the new rules are intended to reduce gambling-related harm and addiction.
The draft allows only limited display of gambling trademarks through sponsorships involving sports clubs, federations, associations and organisations, as well as support for cultural, healthcare and educational activities. Television broadcasts and online coverage of sponsored events would remain subject to restrictions. Affiliate marketing linked to gambling operators would also be prohibited, with affiliate licences due to end on Jan. 1, 2027.
The bill follows a consultation on a similar package opened by the Ministry of Finance on Sept. 23. An earlier attempt to introduce a blanket advertising ban and higher gambling taxes was rejected by Parliament in July, amid concerns about effects on licensed operators and the possibility of diverting players to unregulated sites.
The fiscal measures include a proposed €400,000 five-year licence for online betting. Lottery, lotto and sports-betting licences would cost €300,000, as would a five-year casino licence; 10-year casino authorisations would cost twice that amount. Five-year gaming-hall licences would be €75,000 in municipalities below 500,000 residents and €150,000 in larger cities, with 10-year fees doubled.
Companies producing, importing, distributing or servicing gaming equipment would face fees of €50,000 for five years or €100,000 for 10 years. Mandatory responsible-gambling contributions would be €60,000 for online betting operators, €20,000 for casinos and €10,000 for other gambling-product providers, split equally among the youth and sports, health, and education ministries.
Land-based casinos and gaming halls would face higher quarterly charges from 2027, including €600 for gaming machines, €13,000 for gaming tables and €3,000 for other equipment. From Jan. 1, 2028, the alternative-tax system would be replaced by a state-fee model combining fixed and variable components. Online betting operators would face a minimum monthly state fee of €100,000, or €1.2 million a year before revenue.
The September consultation materials also proposed a 23% rate on the difference between wagers and winnings for slot and casino games. Online gambling has already been taxed at 25% of gross gaming revenue since January, alongside a 10% corporate tax, after a five-percentage-point increase approved in the 2025 budget.
Foreign online betting companies would have to establish a place of business in Bulgaria. Operators’ systems would also have to connect electronically with the National Revenue Agency, allowing it to receive data on bets, winnings and revenue in real time or at set intervals. The proposed local-presence deadline for existing operators is March 31, 2027.
The government has presented those requirements as tools for tracking financial flows and comparing declared activity with bets, payouts, revenue, expenses and corporate tax due. Banks, electronic-money institutions and payment-service providers handling gambling transactions would have to transfer remuneration above 1.5% of a transaction’s value to the state.
The proposals arrive after rapid growth in the online market. National Revenue Agency figures cited by Novinite put online betting volume at about BGN 66 billion in 2025, up from BGN 44 billion in 2023, while the number of licensed online betting companies rose from seven in 2019 to 26 by 2025. The bill now moves to parliamentary committees for consideration.
