Bulgaria's government proposes gambling ad ban and higher industry fees
Regulation2 min read
Bulgaria's government has submitted Gambling Act amendments to the National Assembly that would prohibit gambling promotion and raise industry taxes and licence charges. The proposals include a minimum monthly fee of €100,000 for online betting operators and tighter financial and data-reporting requirements. Parliamentary committees and members of the National Assembly will examine the bill next.
A proposed overhaul of Bulgaria's gambling law would prohibit advertising, raise operator taxes and licence fees, and strengthen financial and regulatory oversight. The government sent the bill to the National Assembly on Wednesday after a regular Council of Ministers meeting.
The proposed ban would cover promotion of gambling games, organisers and related brands across all advertising formats, channels and locations. Limited use of trademarks would be permitted for gambling company sponsorship of sports bodies and support for cultural, healthcare and education projects. Television and online coverage of sponsored events would face restrictions. The bill would also end the activities of affiliates promoting gambling games through marketing programmes.
The proposal sets a minimum monthly charge of €100,000 for online betting operators. It also raises the one-off charges for granting and maintaining gambling licences. A €300,000 licence fee would apply to lottery games, lotto and betting on sports results or random events, apart from online betting. Online betting licences would cost €400,000, and casino operators would pay €300,000 for a five-year licence. The licence fees would be doubled for a 10-year term.
Operator contributions to policies to prevent and reduce gambling addiction would rise to €60,000 for online betting, €20,000 for casino games and €10,000 for other gambling activities. The proceeds would be divided equally among the ministries of youth and sports, health and education.
Foreign companies offering online betting in Bulgaria would need to maintain a business establishment in the country. Operators would have to connect their gaming systems directly to the National Revenue Agency's information systems. The connection would give the agency data on bets, winnings and revenue in real time or at specified intervals.
Banks, payment providers and electronic money institutions handling gambling transactions and winnings would also face a new financial contribution. They would have to transfer remuneration exceeding 1.5% of a transaction's value to the state budget. The bill will next be examined by parliamentary committees and members of the National Assembly.