Bulgaria Council of Ministers Approves Total Gambling Advertising Ban and Higher Taxes
Bulgaria's Council of Ministers approved draft amendments for a full gambling advertising ban across all media, higher taxes from 2027, minimum EUR 100,000 monthly fees for online operators, and real-time monitoring links to the National Revenue Agency. Foreign online firms must establish local presence. Parliament must approve the package, which follows a July 2026 rejection over operator impact risks.
SCCG Take — Operators face sharply elevated compliance and marketing costs with restricted sponsorship visibility, likely compressing margins while regulators gain direct data access. The prior rejection highlights execution risk if unregulated channels expand.
The Bulgarian government has approved draft amendments imposing an overall ban on gambling advertising together with increased taxes and fees across the sector. The Council of Ministers gave its approval on November 11, sending the proposals to Parliament for consideration, according to GamblingNews.
The restrictions would cover advertisements for gambling products, licensed operators and associated brands across television, radio, print publications, online platforms and outdoor advertising. Gambling companies could still brand a limited number of sponsorship arrangements with sports clubs, federations and other organizations in cultural, health and educational sectors, but display of those sponsorships would face limits in broadcasts and online coverage.
The amendments would end the activity of affiliate operators promoting gambling products. Existing advertising curbs have not sufficiently reduced exposure, particularly for children and other vulnerable groups, the government said. The new rules seek to curb gambling-related harm.
Bulgarian Gambling Operators Face Higher Costs From 2027
Land-based casinos and gaming halls face higher taxes starting in 2027. Those charges will be replaced in 2028 by a two-part state fee consisting of a fixed payment and a variable component linked to betting turnover and payouts. Online gambling operators must pay a variable monthly state fee of a minimum of EUR 100,000 ($110,781).
Licensing fees will rise for operators and for companies that manufacture, import, distribute or service gaming equipment. A five-year license will cost EUR 50,000 ($55,392); a ten-year license will cost EUR 100,000 ($110,781). Social responsibility contributions and financial penalties for breaches will also increase. Foreign companies offering online gambling in Bulgaria will need a permanent business presence to improve tax reporting and allow comparison of declared revenues with betting activity and player payouts.
The package adds electronic links between operator gaming systems and the National Revenue Agency for real-time data on bets, payouts and revenue. Educational initiatives, informational campaigns and prevention programs targeting schools are planned to address gambling addiction. Parliament rejected a similar blanket ban and tax increase in July 2026 over concerns about licensed operators and possible migration to unregulated sites. In September, Prime Minister Rumen Radev signaled a renewed push for stricter rules. The current proposals still require parliamentary approval before becoming law.
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