Bulgaria Enforces New Licensing System and Levies for Gambling Affiliates
TL;DR — Bulgaria has activated mandatory NRA licensing for affiliates earning from player registrations, deposits or wagers. The regime imposes a €6,000 annual fee, 10% levy on commissions (20% if concealed), five-year licence terms and channel disclosure. Penalties reach €20,000 with doubling for repeats plus website blocking.
SCCG Take — The framework raises compliance costs and forces marketing redesign away from performance commissions. Operators should audit affiliate contracts now to embed levy withholding and confirm licensed status.
The new licensing system for gambling affiliates in Bulgaria has entered into force. Affiliates whose income ties to player activity must now obtain licences from the National Revenue Agency (NRA). Existing affiliates had until August 15 to submit applications. Licences remain valid for five years and extend to both Bulgarian and foreign operators. Overseas entities must appoint a local representative with a Bulgarian address.
The framework covers individuals or companies earning from registrations, deposits, wagers, winnings or other measurable gambling activity. Fixed-fee traditional advertising stays exempt. Applicants must declare every promotional channel including websites, apps, social media accounts and streaming platforms. These details form part of the recorded licence.
Affiliates pay a fixed annual fee of €6,000 due by March 31 next year. They face a variable levy of 10 per cent of performance-based commission withheld monthly by the operator. Concealed commissions raise the rate to 20 per cent. Affiliates may promote only operators that hold a valid Bulgarian gaming licence. The NRA processes applications within seven days. Incomplete filings trigger notice within three days followed by a one-week correction period.
Enforcement Powers and Penalties
The updated rules introduce penalties for unlicensed activity that range from €5,000 to €20,000. Repeat offences carry double fines and permit confiscation of related earnings. The NRA holds authority to order blocking of websites, apps, social media profiles and streaming platforms. Telecom providers must restrict access within 24 hours of receiving such an order.
According to Focus Gaming News the abbreviated compliance window leaves no room for gradual adjustment. The distinction between performance-linked and fixed-fee models may prompt operators to review marketing structures. Foreign affiliates face added hurdles through the local representative mandate. Regulators now hold concrete tools to police the affiliate space. Market participants will track how strictly the seven-day processing timeline and blocking mechanisms see use in practice. Early enforcement signals will shape compliance planning for the balance of the year.
Reporting: Focus Gaming News
Generated by SCCG’s automated editorial system from published source reporting. SCCG Management holds editorial responsibility.
Bulgaria just made affiliate marketing measurably more expensive and legally risky — operators must audit contracts immediately.
We're watching every regulated market tighten affiliate rules, but Bulgaria moved fast and hit hard: mandatory licensing in weeks, levies on every performance deal, and ISP blocking live now. Operators with Bulgarian exposure need clean affiliate rosters yesterday, or they're withholding penalties they never budgeted for.
- €6,000 annual fee plus 10% monthly levy on all performance commissions (20% if hidden)
- NRA processes in 7 days; unlicensed affiliates face €5K–€20K fines and site blocking within 24 hours
- Foreign affiliates must appoint local reps; only fixed-fee advertising exempt
SCCG angle: SCCG audits your affiliate portfolio against the new Bulgarian framework, identifies exposure, and connects you to compliant local partners or restructures deals to fixed-fee models that sidestep the levy — we've guided clients through every European licensing wave.
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