--- title: "Bulgaria gambling licensing, cost and supervision | advennt.io" canonical: https://advennt.io/jurisdictions/bulgaria/ source_html: /jurisdictions/bg/index.html description: "Bulgaria gambling regulation by game: 9 open · 3 restricted · 4 closed · 1 uncertain · 3 not yet assessed." generated_at: 2026-10-27T01:29:53Z content_sha256: 5fecbae286d41252add6955bf12103b8949c28662f26ec3bf1f7d0a2b4deb744 generator: "fe-fleet/md-twin@1.0" --- # Bulgaria gambling licensing, cost and supervision | advennt.io [Jurisdictions](/jurisdictions/) › Bulgaria # Bulgaria National jurisdiction Viable secondary EU market for licensed operators, but tightening marketing/tax conditions compress margins. [9 open · 3 restricted · 4 closed · 1 uncertain · 3 not yet assessed → 20 classes](#products) Collected 25 Oct 2026 · Published 25 Oct 2026 · Changed 25 Oct 2026 [PDF](report.pdf) [Sign in for PDF](https://advennt.io/auth/) [Compare](/compare/?j=bulgaria) ## Can we offer our product? Every product class, in fixed taxonomy order. The band is what you can do; where the recorded legal status says something the band does not, it is shown beside the product. ### Player products - CasinoOOpen - PokerOOpen - BingoOOpen - LotteryState monopoly (sole exception to a general prohibition)XClosed - Sports bettingOOpen - Other event betting–Not yet assessed - Horse and greyhound racing betting–Not yet assessed - Esports bettingModels agreeOOpen - Exchange bettingModels agreeOOpen - Pool bettingState monopoly · ContestedXClosedVaries by form · 1Horse and greyhound racing pool: open - Virtual event betting–Not yet assessed - Fantasy sportsGrey zone · Models agree?Uncertain - Skill gamesProhibited · ContestedXClosedVaries by form · 1Pure skill: outside_perimeter - Prediction marketsProhibited · Models agreeXClosed - SweepstakesOutside the regulatory perimeter · Models agreeOOpen - Free playOutside the regulatory perimeter · Models agreeOOpen ### Supply roles - Software / B2BRRestricted - Affiliate marketingRRestricted - Payments for gamblingModels agreeOOpen ### Settlement rail - Crypto gamblingRRestricted Class-level certainty is graded for 9 of 20 classes. ## Board briefing Bulgaria: open EU-licensed market tightening under a 2024 advertising ban and a 25% GGR tax from 2026. #### What has changed - The May 2024 amendments banned most gambling advertising; the one-off licence fee rose to BGN 400,000 in 2024; and the GGR tax rises from 20% to 25% on 1 January 2026, coinciding with euro-area accession. #### What to do now - Secure an NRA per-game licence via an EU/EEA entity, fund BGN 1.5m capital, appoint a local representative, stand up Bulgaria-resident data storage with an NRA replication server, and rebuild marketing around the advertising ban. #### What to watch - The 25% GGR tax effect on margins, euro-changeover payment rails, and any further AML tightening. ## 11 answers, each dated and graded The weather grades favourability for an operator, not legality: legality is the product table above. The left rule is our confidence: solid confirmed, dashed probable, dotted uncertain. 01 · What kind of market is this? ### Overview Mixed Bulgaria's gambling regulatory landscape is dominated this period by a draft Act amending the Gambling Act, notified to the European Commission as 2026/0536/BG on 2 October 2026. The draft proposes a near-total advertising ban, termination of the affiliate-licensing regime created only in August 202… Full analysis · 155 words Bulgaria's gambling regulatory landscape is dominated this period by a draft Act amending the Gambling Act, notified to the European Commission as 2026/0536/BG on 2 October 2026. The draft proposes a near-total advertising ban, termination of the affiliate-licensing regime created only in August 2026, higher online levies, and real-time equipment reporting for land-based operators. It remains at consultation stage, with the consultation (item 12738-K) closing 23 October 2026 and no government bill yet before the National Assembly. The existing framework, including the National Revenue Agency's blocking and payment-blocking powers and the affiliate-licensing regime itself, both dating to the State Budget Act 2026 transitional provisions effective 1 August 2026, remains in force unchanged alongside the proposal. As a civil-law jurisdiction, Bulgaria's gambling framework rests on this statutory stack of the Gambling Act plus its amending and budget-linked instruments, with the draft representing a potential further layer on that stack rather than a wholesale replacement of it. - Severe 2024 advertising ban - GGR tax rising to 25% in 2026 - BGN 1.5m capital requirement Not reviewed Information added after the 12 Aug 2026 expert review — published for currency and labelled not reviewed. 12 Oct 2026 Not reviewed Read update Bulgaria's gambling regime is in an active reform phase as at October 2026. A draft Gambling Act amendment package, submitted for public consultation around 24 September 2026, proposes a near-total ban on gambling advertising and a requirement for real-time NRA equipment monitoring, layered on an already in-force affiliate-licensing regime effective 1 August 2026 and a gross gaming revenue tax rise to 25% effective 1 January 2026. The NRA Gambling Office has also seen internal leadership instability, with its Director of Gambling Policy departing on 18 June 2026. No core licensing, entry-pathway or product-class change has been evidenced: the structural route to market is stable even as the cost, advertising and technical-compliance perimeter tightens around it. Probable Not reviewed 1 post-review update · Not reviewed [Read full analysis & tables →](/jurisdictions/bulgaria/overview/) 02 · Can we get a licence? ### Licensing and regulation Mixed High level requirement for online and land based licences can be found on the NRA site and link to Gambling Act at: https://nra.bg/wps/portal/nra-en/gambling.en ## Licence Triggers Making facilities for gambling available to persons based in Bulgaria. ## Type of licence needed Specifically the … Full analysis · 608 words High level requirement for online and land based licences can be found on the NRA site and link to Gambling Act at: https://nra.bg/wps/portal/nra-en/gambling.en ## Licence Triggers Making facilities for gambling available to persons based in Bulgaria. ## Type of licence needed Specifically the type of licences that can be granted are: Lottery games: traditional lottery, instant lottery, raffle, the lottery game with numbers (pools, lotto, bingo, keno, and their varieties); Games by betting on outcomes of sports competitions, and horse and dog races; Games with betting on chance events and with betting involving right guessing of facts; Games with slot machines. Casino games. Activities of manufacturing, distribution, and service maintenance of gambling equipment. Activities of import, distribution, and service maintenance of gambling equipment. The indicated gambling games, except raffles and instant lottery, may also be organized online – directly via the Internet or via other electronic means of communication: mobile or stationary phone sets, radio, television, satellite, or other means. A license shall give the right to organize only a game or activity explicitly stipulated in it (Article 3, Paragraph 3 of the Gambling Act), i.e. for each type of gambling game or activity, a separate license is required. ## Period of licence & renewal process Licences can be awarded for a five, or for a ten-year period in circumstances where operators are able to prove in advance that it will exceed a BGN 2m investment threshold. ## Application timeframe and phases Normally it takes 2-4 months for the application to be process by the regulator To ensure compliance the regulator may require the preparation and submission of internal rules, policies and procedures; contractual templates; general terms and conditions; approval and appointment of the relevant authorised individuals who will act in key compliance-required roles (Key Persons). For both ongoing compliance and initial licensing purposes, online gambling operators need also to comply with domestic law. This includes advertising regulation, the consumer protection, data protection, AML, and others. ## Geographical cover The licences are specific to Bulgaria only ## Mechanics of the licence process There is no tie to having a land based licensed where foreign applicants can apply for remote licences without limit on number of licences granted ## Bad Actor / cooling off periods The applicant must not have been found in breach of the Gambling Act at any time (e.g., have had its licence revoked; had its directors or majority shareholders subjected to criminal proceedings, etc.). This also extends sanctioning by the EEA countries in respect of licences held there or unlicensed activity. ## Applicant considerations EU-registered entity The applicant must be an EEA -registered company (as such, Gibraltar and Great Britain companies no longer qualify post-Brexit). Authorised representative If the company is not Bulgarian, it must nominate an authorised representative in Bulgaria who does not have independent status. The NRA must approve the gaming software and any updates. Foreign operators from outside the EU, the EEA or the Swiss Confederation can only take part in the operation of gambling in Bulgaria if at least one of the following conditions is met: The company organises gambling activities in a casino at a four-star or higher category hotel when the hotel is the property of the company or of a controlled company. The company has invested financial resources amounting to at least €10m in gambling and other activities in Bulgaria and has provided at least 500 jobs. Capitalisation / Bank guarantees Minimum paid-in capital to obtain gambling licence: is BGN 750,000 (around EUR 383,000). Slot machine licensees face a minimum capital requirement of BGN 1 million Land based casino licensees need at least BGN 1.5 million (about €767,000). Not reviewed Information added after the 12 Aug 2026 expert review — published for currency and labelled not reviewed. 18 Oct 2026 Not reviewed Read update The affiliate-licensing regime for Bulgaria's gambling sector was introduced through the transitional provisions of the State Budget Act for 2026 (State Gazette issue 69), which amended the Gambling Act with effect from 1 August 2026, and this regime remains in force. A draft Act amending and supplementing the Gambling Act, notified to the European Commission on 2 October 2026 as TRIS notification 2026/0536/BG, would terminate all active gambling-affiliate licences created under that August 2026 regime, with termination effective from 1 January 2027. This would reverse the affiliate-licensing framework within five months of its creation. The draft remains at public consultation stage (item 12738-K, closing 23 October 2026) and has not been tabled before the National Assembly. An operator holding or seeking a Bulgarian affiliate licence today is operating under a regime created by budget-linked transitional provisions that a separate, later draft instrument proposes to unwind entirely. 4 Oct 2026 Not reviewed Read update The affiliate operator licence, created under the August 2026 State Budget Act and administered by the National Revenue Agency with an annual fee and commission withholding, is itself the subject of a draft proposal opened for public consultation on 23 September 2026. That draft Gambling Act amendment would terminate all active affiliate licences from 1 January 2027, reversing a regime that had been in force for only a matter of weeks. The draft is a proposal before the legislature, not an enacted instrument, and the current affiliate licensing framework remains operative pending any enactment. No change to core operator licensing conditions beyond the affiliate class was evidenced this cycle. 28 Sep 2026 Not reviewed Read update Affiliate marketers whose remuneration is linked to referrals, deposits, bets, or gross gaming revenue must now hold an NRA-issued approval, effective 1 August 2026 under transitional provisions of the 2026 State Budget Act amending the Gambling Act (State Gazette issue 69). This is a primary-legislation change brought in via a budget-act transitional provision rather than a standalone gambling-law amendment, and the National Revenue Agency has issued official guidance to affiliates and operators clarifying the scope of remuneration structures that trigger the approval requirement. The change directly extends Bulgaria's gambling-licensing perimeter beyond operators to the affiliate-marketing layer of the value chain, a segment that had not previously required its own regulatory approval. Operators relying on affiliate-driven acquisition should treat this as a new counterparty-compliance obligation: verifying that every affiliate in a performance-linked arrangement holds the requisite NRA approval before continuing to pay commission on referred activity. 21 Sep 2026 Not reviewed Read update A new gambling_affiliate_licence category was created under the Gambling Act as amended by Section 34 of the State Budget Act 2026, issued by the NRA Gambling Office with five-year validity. The category captures performance-linked affiliate remuneration, specifically commission, deposit, bet or winnings-based arrangements, while flat-fee or time-based advertising remains outside its scope. The licence is confirmed by NRA official decision R-CU-30-9/27.01.2026 and corroborated by multiple trade-press sources reporting the 1 August 2026 in-force date. The underlying instrument mix is MIXED: the enabling change arrives through budget-act transitional provisions rather than a freestanding gambling statute, so the licence sits on an enabling-Act foundation of only partially tested durability, notwithstanding the confirmed operational fact of its issuance and five-year term. 2 Sep 2026 Not reviewed Read update Bulgaria introduced a wholly new gambling_affiliate_licence class this cycle, administered by the National Revenue Agency and effective 1 August 2026, targeting affiliates who acquire players in exchange for performance-based (CPA/revenue-share) remuneration. The licence carries a five-year validity period and an annual fee of EUR 6,000. Foreign affiliate applicants must appoint a Bulgaria-domiciled authorised representative as a licensing condition. The framework derives from the transitional provisions of the 2026 State Budget Act (State Gazette issue 69) amending the Gambling Act, and is corroborated across three independent trade-press sources. Durability is MIXED: the licence rests on primary budget legislation, but its operative detail sits in transitional provisions rather than a freestanding statutory amendment, so the regime should be read as an enabling act with delegated administrative mechanics rather than fully settled doctrine. Probable Expert approved 5 post-review updates · Not reviewed In expert review scope [Read full analysis & tables →](/jurisdictions/bulgaria/licensing/) 03 · How hard is entry, really? ### Market entry in practice Mixed ## Regulated Gambling is a regulated and licensable activity in Bulgaria. The Gambling Act 2012 does not distinguish between online gambling and land-based gambling but rather recognises online mediums as mechanisms providing general gambling. Article 2 of the Gambling Act defines gambling as “any… Full analysis · 318 words ## Regulated Gambling is a regulated and licensable activity in Bulgaria. The Gambling Act 2012 does not distinguish between online gambling and land-based gambling but rather recognises online mediums as mechanisms providing general gambling. Article 2 of the Gambling Act defines gambling as “any game of chance whereupon a wager is made and there may be either winning or a loss of the wager.” The following gambling activities are regulated and permitted: Sports betting; Betting (on random events e.g. betting on lotteries, or as a result of knowledge of facts but excluding sports betting); Casino betting (including poker and other card games); and Raffles, bingo and keno. ## Market size The Bulgarian gambling industry was predicted to generate BGN200m in taxes for the country’s budget in 2024. ## Localisation Payment methods popular in Bulgaria: A1 (previously Mtel or Mobiltel) is also among the most popular deposit methods in Bulgarian online casinos. It is available only to subscribers of the mobile operator A1. To make such a payment, one needs to request an SMS code, then enter it in the indicated field. The amount of the deposit will be charged to the user’s monthly bill with the mobile operator. ePay.bg is an electronic wallet through which one can make secure payments on betting sites ## Top Key Attractions and Challenges ## Attractions A stable market with a population with a relatively large propensity for gambling Regulated jurisdiction where most land based and online gambling activities are permitted. The organisation and conduct of gambling in Bulgaria may be carried out by entities in or from another EU or EEA Member State or Switzerland with minimal infrastructure, and integration requirements ## Challenges Advertising is now restricted to a few outlets such as billboards, where online media and broadcast ads are now banned High initial investment / capitalisation costs Bulgarian Sports Totalisator has monopoly control in Bingo, Lottery and Offline sports betting. Probable Expert approved In expert review scope [Read full analysis & tables →](/jurisdictions/bulgaria/market-entry/) 04 · What do the licences cost? ### Licence fees Mixed From 1 January 2024 the one-off fixed component of the online betting state licensing fee rose to BGN 400,000 (~€204,500). Minimum paid-in share capital is BGN 1.5m (~€767,000). A bank guarantee and EU bank account for player funds are required. Fees are moderate but capital requirements are signifi… Full analysis · 51 words From 1 January 2024 the one-off fixed component of the online betting state licensing fee rose to BGN 400,000 (~€204,500). Minimum paid-in share capital is BGN 1.5m (~€767,000). A bank guarantee and EU bank account for player funds are required. Fees are moderate but capital requirements are significant by CEE standards. Not reviewed Information added after the 12 Aug 2026 expert review — published for currency and labelled not reviewed. 18 Oct 2026 Not reviewed Read update Bulgaria's current online gambling operator levy is reported at 25 percent of gross gaming revenue as of 1 January 2026. The draft Act amending the Gambling Act, notified to the European Commission on 2 October 2026 (TRIS 2026/0536/BG), proposes raising this online levy to 21 percent in 2027 and 22 percent in 2028, introducing a EUR 100,000 monthly minimum per operator, and adding one-time state licence fees ranging from EUR 25,000 to EUR 100,000 for certain licence categories. These changes are draft-stage only, still within the public consultation that closes 23 October 2026, and have not yet been placed before the National Assembly. For cost-planning purposes, an operator should treat the 25 percent GGR figure as the operative rate and the proposed 21/22 percent schedule, monthly minimum, and new licence fees as a material but unconfirmed future cost trajectory. 12 Oct 2026 Not reviewed Read update The gross gaming revenue tax on online gambling operators in Bulgaria rose to 25%, from 20%, effective 1 January 2026, a change corroborated across multiple press sources and treated as confirmed. A subsequent proposal in July 2026 to raise the online-operator tax further was rejected by the Ministry of Finance. A newer draft, opened for consultation around 24 September 2026, proposes a different cost mechanism: a minimum monthly tax contribution of at least EUR 100,000 for online operators, alongside fixed minimum charges per machine or table for land-based venues. This minimum-contribution proposal remains unconfirmed and at consultation stage. Taken together, the confirmed 25% GGR rate is the operative cost baseline today, while the minimum-contribution mechanism represents a further cost escalation that has not yet been enacted and should be tracked as a distinct, separately-timed risk. 28 Sep 2026 Not reviewed Read update Bulgaria's gross gaming revenue tax stands at 25%, having been raised from 20% earlier in 2026. A further tax increase was proposed and rejected by the National Assembly in July 2026, but the same increase has been re-proposed in the Ministry of Finance's 23 September 2026 draft law, so operators should not treat the July rejection as settling the matter. Layered on top of the GGR tax, the new affiliate-licensing regime introduced a fixed EUR 6,000 annual fee for affiliate approval plus a 10% withholding on performance-based commission, which the licensed operator must remit before paying the affiliate. The combined effect for an operator running an affiliate-driven acquisition programme is a materially higher and more administratively complex cost base than earlier in 2026, with a credible near-term risk of further increases if the September draft law is enacted. 21 Sep 2026 Not reviewed Read update The new gambling_affiliate_licence carries an annual state fee of EUR 6,000, payable to remain in the regime, alongside a 10 percent withholding on performance-linked commission that the operator remits directly to the NRA on the affiliate's behalf. Where commission is found to have been concealed, this withholding rate doubles to 20 percent, materially raising the cost of any non-transparent commission arrangement. Together, the fee and withholding structure represent a new and non-trivial cost layer for affiliate businesses that previously operated without a licensing fee or a withholding mechanism at all. The fee figure derives from commercial-law commentary while the doubling penalty is independently corroborated by trade-press reporting, giving the overall cost picture Confirmed confidence at the claim level despite resting on T3-tier sourcing. 2 Sep 2026 Not reviewed Read update The cost-to-operate picture rose on two fronts this cycle. The gross gaming revenue tax applicable to lotteries, raffles, toto, bingo, keno and online gambling increased from 20 percent to 25 percent effective 1 January 2026, while slot and casino segments continue under fixed per-machine and per-table levies; this figure is rated Uncertain, resting on a single trade-press source with no direct State Gazette retrieval completed this cycle, though the underlying tax instrument itself is rated DURABLE. Separately, the new gambling_affiliate_licence introduces a recurring EUR 6,000 annual fee for any performance-based affiliate relationship. Together, the tax increase and the new licence fee raise the effective cost of operating in Bulgaria for both operators and their affiliate networks this cycle. Probable Not reviewed 5 post-review updates · Not reviewed [Read full analysis & tables →](/jurisdictions/bulgaria/fees/) 05 · What is the tax take? ### Tax Mixed Minimum paid-in capital to obtain online gambling licence: is BGN 1.5M Slot machine licensees face a minimum capital requirement of BGN 1 million Land based casino licensees need at least BGN 1.5 million (about €767,000). ## Application fees A one-off application fee of BGN 40,000 (B2C) or BGN 1… Full analysis · 282 words Minimum paid-in capital to obtain online gambling licence: is BGN 1.5M Slot machine licensees face a minimum capital requirement of BGN 1 million Land based casino licensees need at least BGN 1.5 million (about €767,000). ## Application fees A one-off application fee of BGN 40,000 (B2C) or BGN 10,000 (B2B). ## Ongoing fees Annual fees in relation to socially responsible causes amounting to BGN 50,000 for online betting operators and BGN 5,000 from all other (except for online betting and casino games) gambling games operators. For new online sports betting licensees (post January 2024) the license fee has risen from BGN100,000 to BGN400,000. ## Any required minimum guarantee Not applicable. Overall fee level: high. Lottery: Fees apply for the examination of documents (ranging from BGN 2,000 to BGN 35,000), the issuance of licences (between BGN 5,000 and BGN 35,000) and the amending of licences (between BGN 100 and BGN 2,000). Under Article 26(4) of the Gambling Act 2012, licences can be awarded for five- or ten-year periods, the latter “where the investments proven in advance ... exceed”: BGN 1M for numerical lottery games such as bingo and keno. BGN 1M for raffles and instant lottery games. BGN 10m for traditional lottery games, numerical lottery games such as lotto. Software/B2B: Fees for production, distribution, and service of gaming equipment are set at BGN 20,000. These fees are collected for each individual licence. ## TAXES ## Licence taxes Starting January 2026, Bulgaria raised the lotteries, raffles, toto, bingo, keno and online gambling tax on gross gaming revenue from the previous 20% to 25%. ## Sales taxes Not applicable ## Corporate taxes Only relevant to operators incorporated in Bulgaria with a current rate of 10% Probable Expert approved In expert review scope [Read full analysis & tables →](/jurisdictions/bulgaria/taxes/) 06 · Can we move player money? ### Payments and banking Mixed ## Payments For depositing bets and payment of prizes, the operator must use a bank account of a licenced bank operating in Bulgaria or in another member state of the EEA or the Swiss Confederation, which operates in Bulgaria. Crypto currency gambling is not regulated. While Bitcoin is recognised … Full analysis · 130 words ## Payments For depositing bets and payment of prizes, the operator must use a bank account of a licenced bank operating in Bulgaria or in another member state of the EEA or the Swiss Confederation, which operates in Bulgaria. Crypto currency gambling is not regulated. While Bitcoin is recognised as a virtual currency, Bulgaria does not allow payment from cryptocurrencies. Operators must withhold 10 percent of performance-based affiliate commission and remit that amount to the National Revenue Agency. This sits alongside the annual EUR 6,000 affiliate licence fee, together constituting a new financial-flow layer specific to affiliate marketing arrangements rather than a change to core operator payment processing. The obligation rests on the recent Gambling Act amendments and depends on implementation detail as the regime commences on 1 September 2026. Not reviewed Information added after the 12 Aug 2026 expert review — published for currency and labelled not reviewed. 12 Oct 2026 Not reviewed Read update The National Revenue Agency holds an express power, in force since around 25 August 2026, to instruct banks and payment providers to block outgoing commission payments to gambling affiliates operating without the licence now required under the 1 August 2026 affiliate-licensing amendment. This gives the NRA an enforcement mechanism that operates directly at the payment layer, rather than through administrative penalty alone, meaning unlicensed affiliate traffic can be interrupted at the point of payment. This power sits alongside, and reinforces, the affiliate-licensing regime: an unlicensed affiliate faces both direct financial sanction and the practical risk of having its commission payments blocked before they are received. No further cross-border payment-flow restriction specific to gambling has been identified. 4 Oct 2026 Not reviewed Read update The draft Gambling Act reform under consultation since 23 September 2026 would impose additional financial-registration obligations on foreign operators earning revenue from the Bulgarian market, named in trade press alongside the proposal for real-time connection of gaming equipment to the National Revenue Agency for data reporting. No further detail on the scope, registration mechanism, or compliance timeline for the foreign-operator financial-registration proposal has been retrieved this cycle. Both proposals remain in public consultation rather than enacted, and operators serving the Bulgarian market from abroad should treat them as a signal of tightening financial oversight rather than as a specified requirement that can yet be implemented against. 28 Sep 2026 Not reviewed Read update The new affiliate-licensing regime introduces a payment-flow mechanism alongside its licensing requirement: a 10% withholding on performance-based affiliate commission, which the licensed operator must apply and remit before the balance reaches the affiliate. This creates a new intermediated payment step for any operator-affiliate relationship structured around referral, deposit, bet, or gross-gaming-revenue-linked commission. Separately, and on the enforcement side of the payment-flow picture, the NRA Director's blocking power under Article 17(1)(9a) of the Gambling Act extends to payment channels operated by banks and payment providers, meaning an unlicensed affiliate's or operator's access to payment rails can be cut off as part of the same blocking action that targets its online presence. 21 Sep 2026 Not reviewed Read update The NRA's new payment-blocking-order power is the most direct payments-flow development of this cycle, allowing the agency to block outgoing bank and payment-service-provider transactions destined for unlicensed gambling affiliates. This directly targets the commission payments that operators would otherwise remit to affiliates lacking the new gambling_affiliate_licence, converting the licensing requirement into an enforceable payments-level control rather than a purely administrative one. The power is corroborated by FocusGN trade-press reporting on the affiliate framework now in force and sits alongside the 10 percent (or 20 percent, where concealed) withholding that operators must already apply to performance-linked commission remitted to licensed affiliates, meaning payment flows to affiliates are now subject to both a withholding mechanism when licensed and a blocking mechanism when not. 2 Sep 2026 Not reviewed Read update The NRA's expanded blocking authority, enacted via the 2026 Budget Act amendments to the Gambling Act, extends to the payment-adjacent ecosystem surrounding unauthorised gambling platforms and their promotional channels. This reflects the regulator's stated shift toward supervising the full gambling ecosystem, affiliates, distribution channels and payment-adjacent actors, rather than licensed operators in isolation. No payments-specific licensing or transaction-blocking mechanism distinct from the general platform-blocking power was identified this cycle. Probable Expert approved 5 post-review updates · Not reviewed In expert review scope [Read full analysis & tables →](/jurisdictions/bulgaria/payments/) 07 · Can we advertise? ### Marketing Unfavourable On the 18th May 2024, Bulgaria passed a new law severely limiting gambling advertising. This applies to broadcast advertising on radio and television and print media such as newspapers, which are now totally banned. Advertising on online media websites is also subject to the ban. Gambling adverts o… Full analysis · 218 words On the 18th May 2024, Bulgaria passed a new law severely limiting gambling advertising. This applies to broadcast advertising on radio and television and print media such as newspapers, which are now totally banned. Advertising on online media websites is also subject to the ban. Gambling adverts on sports equipment, materials and products are permitted unless intended, targeted of likely to be attractive for persons under 18 years old. Billboards are however still permitted, but only if they are at least 300 metres away from schools, universities, playgrounds and other protected areas, with at least 10% of advertising space dedicated to a problem gambling warnings. These advertising crackdowns have lead to some operators exiting the market and material drop in GGR revenues. Advertising restrictions for unlicensed operators are contained in Section 10(5) of the Gambling Act 2012 they are not permitted to advertise and will face fines if they do so. Lottery: Offering lotteries are prohibited for private operators (excluding raffles, keno and bingo), with licences only issued to the state-owned Sport Totalisator. The only licensed operators: Sport Totalisator is permitted to advertise subject to the provisions of the Article 10 of the Gambling Act, which relates to advertising and subject to the provisions of the Advertising Code. For full details, please see the General Marketing Overview section. Probable Expert approved In expert review scope [Read full analysis & tables →](/jurisdictions/bulgaria/marketing/) 08 · What must the platform meet? ### Technical compliance Mixed A draft provision within the September 2026 Gambling Act amendment package would require casinos, gaming halls and other gambling equipment to connect directly to National Revenue Agency systems for real-time transmission of betting, deposit and payout data. As drafted, existing land-based operators… Full analysis · 143 words A draft provision within the September 2026 Gambling Act amendment package would require casinos, gaming halls and other gambling equipment to connect directly to National Revenue Agency systems for real-time transmission of betting, deposit and payout data. As drafted, existing land-based operators would have until 31 March 2027 to comply, a deadline that applies only if the provision is enacted. The requirement sits at consultation stage, having entered public consultation around 24 September 2026, and has not been enacted. If adopted, it would extend the technical-certification and reporting burden for land-based venues significantly beyond current practice, requiring automatic transmission of deposit, wager and winnings data rather than periodic or on-request reporting. No primary National Assembly or NRA gazette text establishing the final form of this requirement has been located; press reporting is the only source for its scope and timeline at this stage. Not reviewed Information added after the 12 Aug 2026 expert review — published for currency and labelled not reviewed. 4 Oct 2026 Not reviewed Read update The draft Gambling Act reform under consultation since 23 September 2026 includes a proposal for real-time connection of gaming equipment to the National Revenue Agency. This would be a new data-reporting obligation on licensed equipment if enacted, but no further technical specification, such as the data fields to be transmitted, the connection protocol, or an implementation timeline, has been retrieved this cycle. The proposal is named alongside other draft reform elements in trade press reporting without independent elaboration. Pending enactment and the publication of implementing technical standards, operators cannot yet assess the system changes this requirement would demand. Probable Not reviewed 1 post-review update · Not reviewed [Read full analysis & tables →](/jurisdictions/bulgaria/technical/) 09 · Can we ship through apps and platforms? ### Distribution and platforms Mixed ## Infrastructure Article 6 of the Gambling Act stipulates that a central logging server can be located in Bulgaria, or another country of the EU, the EEA or in Switzerland. However, the individual server that collects and stores all the information and data in relation to offering gambling in Bulg… Full analysis · 254 words ## Infrastructure Article 6 of the Gambling Act stipulates that a central logging server can be located in Bulgaria, or another country of the EU, the EEA or in Switzerland. However, the individual server that collects and stores all the information and data in relation to offering gambling in Bulgaria must be kept in Bulgaria. Furthermore, according to the Gambling Act, data shall be stored in its original form for a period of five years. See: https://nra.bg/wps/portal/nra-en/gambling.en/online.gambling.en ## Integrations The central computer systems must be able to register and identify the players and connect to the servers of the National Revenue Agency to provide real-time information on the games played, the bets made, and the prizes paid. ## Software certification Technical requirement for gambling software can be found here: https://dv.parliament.bg/DVWeb/showMaterialDV.jsp?idMat=155660 A new affiliate licensing regime creates two distinct operator-facing obligations ahead of its 1 September 2026 effective date. First, operators must confirm the licensing status of any affiliate partner compensated on a performance basis, since promoting gambling products through an unlicensed affiliate channel exposes that channel to blocking by the National Revenue Agency. Second, operators must withhold 10 percent of performance-based affiliate commission and remit it to the NRA, a new payment-flow compliance obligation layered onto existing operational processes. Both obligations rest on a recent statutory amendment whose practical implementation details will become clearer as the 1 September 2026 commencement date approaches. Affiliates themselves face a parallel obligation to apply for the new licence by 15 August 2026 if already active in the market. Not reviewed Information added after the 12 Aug 2026 expert review — published for currency and labelled not reviewed. 21 Sep 2026 Not reviewed Read update The new affiliate-enforcement regime extends materially into distribution and platform rules. The NRA may order the blocking of websites, apps, social-media profiles and streaming channels operated by, or used to promote, unlicensed affiliates, with telecom providers required to give effect to such orders within a 24-hour compliance window. This mechanism is corroborated by G3 Newswire reporting on the new licensing framework and sits alongside the parallel requirement that affiliates declare all promotional digital channels at the point of licence application. Together, the declaration duty and the blocking power give the NRA both advance visibility into an affiliate's distribution footprint and a fast-acting remedy against non-compliant channels once identified, a materially stronger platform-enforcement posture than existed before this cycle. 2 Sep 2026 Not reviewed Read update The NRA's expanded blocking authority, enacted via the 2026 Budget Act amendments to the Gambling Act, explicitly reaches websites, apps, social-media accounts and streaming channels distributing unauthorised gambling promotion or activity. This is a material widening of the distribution-platform enforcement perimeter, rated Confirmed and DURABLE. The new affiliate-licensing regime compounds this: performance-based affiliates who fail to obtain the new NRA licence now risk having their distribution channel blocked outright, connecting the licensing gate and the platform-blocking gate into a single enforcement mechanism directed at the promotional ecosystem surrounding licensed gambling operators. Probable Expert approved 2 post-review updates · Not reviewed In expert review scope [Read full analysis & tables →](/jurisdictions/bulgaria/distribution/) 10 · How hard does the regulator enforce? ### Enforcement Mixed ## Regulating bodies The National Revenue Agency (NRA) is the Gambling Regulator: www.nra.bg Bulgarian Personal Data Protection Commission, oversees data protection: www.cpdp.bg ## Supervision by Regulator The NRA is responsible for supervision of licensed operators, its not clear how stringent … Full analysis · 601 words ## Regulating bodies The National Revenue Agency (NRA) is the Gambling Regulator: www.nra.bg Bulgarian Personal Data Protection Commission, oversees data protection: www.cpdp.bg ## Supervision by Regulator The NRA is responsible for supervision of licensed operators, its not clear how stringent this supervision activity is ## Enforcement against licensed operators ## Sanctions According to Article 327 of the Penal Code, those that organise gambling in a manner contrary to law face imprisonment for up to six years and a fine of between BGN 1,000 (500 euros) and BGN 10,000 (5,000 euros). For repeat offenders or if the breach is particularly serious or concerns betting on sports events administered by a sports organisation, the penalty is imprisonment of one to eight years and a fine of BGN 2,000 (1,000 Euros) to BGN 50,000 (25,000 euros). Article 96 of the Gambling Act further stipulates that organising online gambling without the required licence is punishable with a fine of between BGN 1m (500,000 euros) and BGN 2m (1m euros). Breaches of provisions of advertising face fines ranging from BGN 3,000 (1,500 euros) to BGN 5,000 (2,500 euros). ## Liability Individuals have personal liability and are subject to personal sanctions, both punitive and criminal, for breaches to the Gambling Act in Bulgaria. ## Typical triggers for enforcement against unlicensed operators Active targeting of Bulgarian based persons using local language websites, currencies and localised content ## Enforcement action taken against unlicensed operators The Gambling Act provides that National Revenue Agency is required to maintain a list of unlicensed websites. After being listed by the regulator as an unlicensed operator in Bulgaria, operators have three days to cease to target Bulgaria with the offering of their gambling services. Subsequently, should the breach persist, the regulator can apply for the Sofia District Court to order ISPs to block these websites within 24 hours of the issue of the court order. ISPs refusing to comply face penalties ranging from BGN 10,000 (5,000 euros) to BGN 30,000 (15,000 euros). ## Frequency of enforcement Bulgaria actively seeks to enforce against unlicensed operators illegally attempting to target Bulgarian residents by regularly updating its blacklist and implementing website blocking. Its website blocking methods, however, do not seem overly sophisticated as operators frequently circumvent the blacklist of website block via a domain name change. The NRA has shut down over 2,500 unlicensed gambling websites in Bulgaria in the first 10 months of 2024. In September alone, more than 640 decisions were issued to halt illegal online betting operations The NRA has intensified its efforts to combat unlicensed online gambling operations, shutting down over 2,500 illegal betting websites since the beginning of 2024. The campaign aims to enforce compliance with the country's gambling laws and protect consumers from unregulated operators. The NRA gives illegal websites a three-day grace period to cease operations voluntarily. Failure to comply results in the NRA referring the case to the court, which may then instruct internet service providers (ISPs) to block access to non-compliant websites. NRA's have a new power to block unlicensed affiliate channels (websites, apps, social media, streaming), tied to the 2026 affiliate licensing regime, ## Extra-territorial application The Bulgarian authorities do not appear to be attempting to issue sanctions for breaches to its gambling prohibition to operators outside the jurisdiction. Enforcement against operators established outside of the jurisdiction appears equally difficult for the territory due to a lack of a physical presence in the country, and an entity based in the jurisdiction on whom to enforce sanctions. The extent of its enforcement action appears to be the publication of its blacklist and website blocking to a limited extent. Not reviewed Information added after the 12 Aug 2026 expert review — published for currency and labelled not reviewed. 28 Sep 2026 Not reviewed Read update Two enforcement developments moved together this cycle. First, the NRA Director gained a statutory power under Article 17(1)(9a) of the Gambling Act as amended to order the blocking of internet pages, mobile applications, and social or video-streaming profiles belonging to unlicensed affiliates, with that blocking power extending to payment channels via banks and payment providers. Second, the NRA's unlicensed-operator blacklist, which feeds this blocking mechanism, moved from a monthly to a daily refresh cadence, a purely operational escalation that materially compresses the window during which an unlicensed affiliate or operator can continue to transact before being cut off from payment rails. Both changes are dated to the same period as the affiliate-licensing reform and read as a coordinated enforcement build-out rather than isolated actions. No named enforcement events against specific entities were evidenced this cycle; the developments described are the creation of statutory power and operational cadence, not yet a record of individual actions taken under them. 21 Sep 2026 Not reviewed Read update The NRA gained two materially new enforcement powers this cycle, both confirmed and both corroborated by independent trade-press reporting. First, payment-blocking-order power over outgoing bank and payment-service-provider transactions destined for unlicensed affiliates, directly targeting the commission flows that sustain non-compliant affiliate arrangements. Second, website, app, social-media and streaming-channel blocking power, enforced through telecom providers within a 24-hour compliance window. Consistent with the statutory-licensing-stack theory appropriate to a civil-law jurisdiction, both powers derive from the same enabling amendment, Section 34 of the State Budget Act 2026, that created the affiliate licence itself, giving the enforcement regime a MIXED durability rating: real and currently in force, but resting on budget-act transitional provisions rather than a long-standing freestanding enforcement statute. Licence-revocation risk for affiliates concentrates on three drivers: promoting an operator without a valid Bulgarian gambling licence, failing to declare a promotional channel at the point of application, and commission concealment that would trigger the doubled 20 percent withholding rate and associated regulatory scrutiny. No enforcement-event history beyond the creation of these powers was surfaced this cycle; the register does not yet show a case record under the new regime. 2 Sep 2026 Not reviewed Read update The National Revenue Agency's enforcement toolkit was expanded this cycle to include the power to block websites, apps, social-media accounts and streaming channels associated with unauthorised gambling activity or promotion, per the 2026 Budget Act amendments to the Gambling Act. This power is rated Confirmed and DURABLE. A Sofia Regional Court decision reportedly included the prediction-market platform Polymarket among sites ordered blocked, evidencing active use of the expanded authority against a novel offshore product; this specific enforcement-action claim is rated only Uncertain, resting on a single trade-press source, with the Advennt confidence framework capping it there despite an upstream Probable flag. Read together, the durable statutory expansion and the reported enforcement event indicate a shift toward supervising the wider gambling ecosystem, affiliates, distribution channels and offshore platforms alike, rather than licensed operators alone. Probable Expert approved 3 post-review updates · Not reviewed In expert review scope 5 enforcement events [Read full analysis & tables →](/jurisdictions/bulgaria/enforcement/) 11 · What is coming? ### Outlook Mixed The legal framework is 'quite settled' and not expected to change materially. Not reviewed Information added after the 12 Aug 2026 expert review — published for currency and labelled not reviewed. 25 Oct 2026 Not reviewed Read update The draft Law Amending and Supplementing the Gambling Act, filed on the Council of Ministers' public-consultations portal as item 12738-K, is the single live reform vehicle for Bulgaria's gambling framework. It was approved by the Council of Ministers on 23 September 2026 and notified to the European Commission as 2026/0536/BG on 2 October 2026, and its public consultation period closed on 23 October 2026. As drafted, it would raise the online gambling fee to a range of 21 to 22 percent with a EUR 100,000 monthly minimum contribution, extend real-time National Revenue Agency monitoring from online operators to land-based casino and gaming-machine equipment on a four-month post-adoption compliance window, tighten the existing advertising restriction toward a near-total ban leaving only limited sponsorship and venue signage untouched, and abolish the existing affiliate-marketing licensing regime from 1 January 2027. None of these changes has yet been enacted, and the draft's next legislative step — committee reading, parliamentary vote, or further revision — is not confirmed in evidence reaching. The official State Gazette promulgation text has not yet been retrieved, leaving the precise pinpoint provisions of the draft unconfirmed beyond the consultation listing and secondary trade-press paraphrase. 18 Oct 2026 Not reviewed Read update A draft Act amending and supplementing the Gambling Act was notified to the European Commission under Directive (EU) 2015/1535 as notification 2026/0536/BG on 2 October 2026. The draft proposes four material changes: a near-total ban on advertising of gambling games, operators and their trademarks across all channels (with narrow exceptions for venue signage, the operator's own website, state lottery draws, and sponsorship of licensed sports clubs and federations); termination of all active gambling-affiliate licences, created under the August 2026 regime, effective 1 January 2027; an increase in the online operator levy to 21 percent in 2027 and 22 percent in 2028 with a EUR 100,000 monthly minimum and new one-time licence fees of EUR 25,000 to EUR 100,000; and extension of real-time deposit, wager and winnings reporting from online betting to land-based slot machines and casino equipment. Public consultation (item 12738-K) closes 23 October 2026. No government bill has yet reached the National Assembly, so none of these changes has legal effect as of this period. 12 Oct 2026 Not reviewed Read update A draft Gambling Act amendment package, submitted for public consultation around 24 September 2026, proposes three linked reforms: a near-total ban on gambling advertising retaining only limited sponsorship of sport, a requirement for real-time NRA equipment monitoring at land-based venues with a proposed 31 March 2027 compliance deadline, and a new tax and fee framework including a minimum monthly tax contribution for online operators. None of these provisions has been enacted. Notably, a predecessor proposal in July 2026, covering a blanket advertising ban and a further tax rise, was rejected by the Ministry of Finance, reportedly on channelisation-risk grounds, indicating that enactment of the current package is not assured. Primary National Assembly bill text or NRA gazette text, which has not yet been located, would be the development most likely to move these provisions from probable to confirmed. 4 Oct 2026 Not reviewed Read update The Council of Ministers opened a public consultation on 23 September 2026, closing on approximately 23 October 2026, on a Gambling Act overhaul proposing a near-total advertising ban, termination of the affiliate licence regime created in August 2026, real-time connection of gaming equipment to the National Revenue Agency, and a higher online levy. Opposition parties are reported to be pushing to broaden the draft further, raising the possibility that any enacted version could be more restrictive than the version currently under consultation. Separately, a February 2026 bill to raise the minimum gambling age from eighteen to twenty-one and a June 2025 proposal for mandatory loss and wagering limits remain pending with no reported movement. 28 Sep 2026 Not reviewed Read update A Ministry of Finance draft law (registration 12738-K) was published 23 September 2026, with public consultation running to 23 October 2026. As published, it would impose a complete ban on gambling advertising, raise licence fees and taxes, and terminate existing affiliate-operator licences effective 1 January 2027. It would also introduce a new Article 42a requiring real-time data transmission from casino and gaming-hall equipment, with an implementing ordinance due by 31 March 2027 and operator compliance required by 30 June 2027. Casino and slot variable-fee provisions, along with repeal of the alternative tax, are deferred separately to 1 January 2028, indicating the reform programme is staged across at least two effective dates rather than delivered in a single tranche. The 23 October 2026 consultation close is the near-term date that will determine whether these measures proceed, are moderated, or stall. Probable Expert approved 5 post-review updates · Not reviewed In expert review scope [Read full analysis & tables →](/jurisdictions/bulgaria/outlook/) Evidential record & source register 1 enforcement · 26 red flags · 12 sources · Expand full record ## Enforcement record What the regulator has actually done, newest first. 1 recorded event. - 18 May 2024National Assembly / NRA · gambling advertisersConfirmedSource 4 · T3 ## What gets operators fined 26 red flags (10 high, 12 medium, 2 low) and 5 controls that address them. - highAdvertising on TV/radio/print/websiteBanned since 18 May 2024 (except state gambling).Source 4 · T3 - highGGR tax rising to 25% in 2026Gross-base tax with no cost deduction erodes margins.Source 5 · T3 - highGibraltar-registered applicantNo longer EU-eligible post-Brexit.Source 3 · T3 - highBelow BGN 1.5m share capitalStatutory minimum for licence eligibility.Source 3 · T3 - highStoring data outside BulgariaOnline betting data localisation mandate.Source 10 · T3 - highNo NRA replication serverRequired for real-time NRA reporting.Source 7 · T3 - highNo MAMLA AML programmeOperators are obligated entities.Source 2 · T3 - highNo self-exclusion toolingMandatory RG obligations.Source 8 · T3 - highUncertified RNGApproved laboratory certification required.Source 8 · T3 - highIgnoring ISP block noticesDomain takedown power present.Source 9 · T3 - mediumNon-EU bank account for player fundsEU bank account mandatory.Source 6 · T3 - mediumUnder-budgeting BGN 400,000 one-off feeRaised January 2024.Source 6 · T3 - mediumMarketing to under-24 without stricter limitsStricter limits required for under-24s.Source 8 · T3 - mediumPayments via couriers to unlicensed entitiesPostal/courier facilitation barred.Source 4 · T3 - mediumUnapproved software updatesNRA approval required for new versions.Source 7 · T3 - mediumNo local authorised representativeMandatory for non-Bulgarian entities.Source 3 · T3 - mediumSoftware not registered with Metrology InstituteRegistration mandatory.Source 8 · T3 - mediumAssuming cost deductibilityGGR base bars deductions.Source 8 · T3 - mediumFailing to report cash paid to individualsBGN 5,000-15,000 penalties.Source 12 · T4 - mediumSingle licence covering multiple gamesSeparate licence per game type.Source 1 · T1 - mediumAffiliate content glamorising gamblingContent restrictions and penalties.Source 10 · T3 - mediumNon-GDPR-compliant processingGDPR + Bulgarian DPA apply.Source 2 · T3 - lowIgnoring euro accession 2026Currency/payment rail change.Source 11 · T3 - lowUnderestimating incumbent strengthEfbet/Winbet/Palmsbet dominate a concentrated market.Source 11 · T3 - criticalOperating without NRA licenceISP/payment blocking and criminal exposure.Source 1 · T1 - criticalOffering online lottery (non-instant)State monopoly since Feb 2021.Source 3 · T3 ### Controls - 001NRA licence maintenanceHold a valid per-game NRA licence and renew before expiry.Source 1 · T1 - 002Data localisation controlStore player/bet/payout data in Bulgaria with NRA replication server.Source 10 · T3 - 003Advertising compliance controlRestrict marketing to permitted channels post-May 2024.Source 4 · T3 - 004AML/MAMLA programmeMaintain CDD, monitoring, STR reporting to the FID.Source 2 · T3 - 005RG toolingSelf-exclusion, deposit limits, reality checks, stricter under-24 limits.Source 8 · T3 ## Worked scenarios 5 entry scenarios, each with the move we would make. #### MT-licensed casino wants to serve Bulgarian players. Requires a separate NRA licence, BGN 1.5m capital and local representative; MT licence does not suffice. Do this: Apply for NRA casino licence via EU entity. Source 1 · T1 Source 3 · T3 #### Gibraltar operator post-Brexit. Gibraltar no longer EU-eligible; must re-domicile in EU/EEA. Do this: Establish an EU subsidiary before applying. Source 3 · T3 #### Operator plans TV ad campaign for 2026. Broadcast gambling advertising banned since May 2024. Do this: Shift to permitted channels; legal review of all creative. Source 4 · T3 #### Operator models 2026 P&L. 25% GGR tax on gross with no deductions cuts margin materially. Do this: Stress-test bonus and marketing spend. Source 5 · T3 Source 8 · T3 #### B2B platform supplier entering Bulgaria. Requires equipment licence and Metrology Institute registration; software needs NRA approval. Do this: Obtain certification and register before supply. Source 1 · T1 Source 8 · T3 ## What we looked for and could not find Confirmed absence is a finding of its own. These are the questions we searched and could not answer from a citable source, with the searches we ran. Never behind the paywall. Player protection. reality-check frequency and statutory pinpoints for deposit-limit defaults not found in public English sources. - searched: Bulgaria gambling reality check frequency statutory - searched: Bulgaria Gambling Act deposit limit default player protection - searched: NRA Bulgaria responsible gambling tools regulation - checked: old.nra.bg Aml cft regime. precise MAMLA monetary reporting threshold not located in available sources. - searched: Bulgaria MAMLA gambling reporting threshold EUR - searched: Bulgaria source of funds threshold gambling - searched: MONEYVAL Bulgaria gambling AML threshold - checked: cms.law ## Source register Every source on a four-step tier scale. A claim is never shown at a stronger tier than the source it cites. 12 sources · 1 tier 1 · 10 tier 3 · 1 tier 4 No. Source Tier Verification 1 BG-GAMBLING-ACT-2012 T1 of 4 Source 1 · Open in drawer → 2 BG-CMS-GUIDE-2026 T3 of 4 Source 2 · Open in drawer → 3 BG-LEXOLOGY-NBLO T3 of 4 Source 3 · Open in drawer → 4 BG-KINSTELLAR-2024 T3 of 4 Source 4 · Open in drawer → 5 BG-TAX-25PCT-2026 T3 of 4 Source 5 · Open in drawer → 6 BG-ALTENAR-2024 T3 of 4 Source 6 · Open in drawer → 7 BG-SZILAGHI T3 of 4 Source 7 · Open in drawer → 8 BG-IGT-25PCT T3 of 4 Source 8 · Open in drawer → 9 BG-PWC-TAX T3 of 4 Source 9 · Open in drawer → 10 BG-BULGARIANLLC T3 of 4 Source 10 · Open in drawer → 11 BG-ADVENNT T3 of 4 Source 11 · Open in drawer → 12 BG-LINKEDIN-2024-TAX T4 of 4 Source 12 · Open in drawer →