Bulgaria’s gambling ad reform passes first hurdle

Bulgaria’s Council of Ministers has approved Prime Minister Rumen Radev’s draft reforms to significantly limit gambling marketing in the country. The ruling government led by Radev’s Progressive Bulgaria party first published the draft texts for public consultation in October, when the full list of proposed restrictions was introduced. Bulgaria PM to open consultations on gambling overhaul The most significant reforms essentially ban all affiliates promoting gambling, a complete reversal of the Radev cabinet’s decision to introduce a licensing route for affiliates earlier this August. Other restrictions would prohibit the promoting of a gambling brand across all communication channels, both outdoor and indoor, with a very narrow exception for sports sponsors, land-based venues, operator websites, and public funding initiatives. Bulgaria rewrites script on gambling tax The bill also targets gambling taxation in direct correlation to Bulgaria soon voting on its upcoming 2027 Budget, its second-ever eurozone budget plan following the country’s adoption of the Euro at the start of 2026. As such, the new gambling levies will be converted from the old ‘Leva’ (BGN) currency into Euros (BGN 1 = €0.51). Gaming halls and brick-and-mortar casinos are potentially facing higher taxes. The tax for individual gaming machines would go up from BGN 800 (€400) to €600. Gaming tables would also be taxed at €13,000 instead of the previous rate of BGN 22,000 (€11,200). Land-based operators will also pay various licence fees depending on the size of the city they are active in, and the licence duration. A five-year licence for settlements up to 500,000, they would be charged €75,000. This rate goes up to €150,000 for any city with more than that (currently only the capital of Sofia). Both of those ceilings double in value for a 10-year licence. Similarly, a five-year licence for an online betting platform would cost €400,000, while an online casino operator would have to pay €300,000. Those rates would also double for a 10-year licence. There’s also a somewhat controversial draft clause affecting payment organisations facilitating gambling transactions, a novel approach in European gambling legislation. Bulgarian fintech firms poke holes in gambling fee cap The draft must now undergo a review by the relevant Special Commissions, after which it would head for a first and second reading in the National Assembly before it becomes official law.