Bulgaria advances gambling ad ban alongside sweeping tax and fee hikes
Proposed Gambling Act amendments submitted to the National Assembly introduce a ban on affiliate marketing, raise five-year online betting licences to €400,000 and mandate a local business presence for overseas operators.
Key takeaways
- Bulgaria’s Council of Ministers approved amendments to the Gambling Act and submitted the bill to the National Assembly on November 11, 2026.
- The legislation prohibits gambling advertising across all channels and bans gambling affiliate marketing, allowing only limited trademark displays for sports, culture, healthcare and education sponsorships.
- Five-year licence fees will rise to €400,000 for online betting and €300,000 for casinos, lotteries and sports betting, with all fees doubling for 10-year terms.
- Quarterly gaming equipment taxes will increase in 2027, followed on January 1, 2028, by a new state-fee model setting a €100,000 minimum monthly fee for online betting operators.
- Overseas online operators must establish a local business presence, link systems to the National Revenue Agency and pay €60,000 annually towards responsible gambling programmes.
TL;DR: Legislation to ban gambling advertising in Bulgaria is advancing to parliamentary committees after the Council of Ministers approved amendments to the country’s Gambling Act and submitted the bill to the National Assembly on November 11, 2026. Alongside prohibiting gambling adverts and affiliate marketing across all channels, the reforms introduce sharp increases in operator licence fees, quarterly equipment taxes and mandatory responsible gambling contributions. The proposals also tighten regulatory oversight by requiring overseas online operators to establish a local business presence and electronically link their reporting systems to the National Revenue Agency.
Bulgaria.- Legislation to ban gambling adverts in Bulgaria is to move forward after the Council of Ministers approved amendments to the country’s Gambling Act. The reforms also include increases in taxes and licence fees, and enhanced regulatory oversight of operators.
The proposed legislation, submitted to the National Assembly on November 11, 2026, would prohibit the advertising of gambling products, operators and associated brands across all formats, channels and locations. According to the government, the measures are intended to strengthen protections against gambling-related harm and reduce the risk of addiction, particularly among vulnerable groups.
The bill provides limited exceptions for sponsorship arrangements. Gambling companies would still be permitted to display trademarks in connection with sponsorships of sports clubs, federations, associations and organisations, as well as initiatives in culture, healthcare and education. Even so, restrictions would apply to television broadcasts and online coverage of sponsored events.
“Limited display of gambling operators’ trademarks will be permitted only in connection with sponsorship of sports clubs, federations, associations and organisations, as well as support for activities in the fields of culture, healthcare and education,” the proposal states.
The government has also proposed a ban on gambling affiliate marketing activities linked to gambling operators. According to the government, this would “ensure consistency between the ban on gambling advertising and the regulatory framework applicable to entities involved in promoting gambling activities.”
Alongside the advertising restrictions, the legislation introduces substantial increases in the costs of operating in Bulgaria’s gambling market. There would be a new licence fee for the production, distribution, maintenance and import of gaming equipment charged at €50,000 for a five-year licence and €100,000 for a 10-year licence.
Other licence fees would also increase sharply. Operators offering lottery products, lotto games and sports betting would face fees of €300,000, while online betting licences would cost €400,000. Casino operators would be required to pay €300,000 for a five-year licence, with all fees doubling for licences issued over a 10-year period.
Gaming hall operators would face fees of €75,000 for five-year licences in municipalities with populations below 500,000 and €150,000 in larger cities. These charges would also double for 10-year authorisations.
The government also plans to increase gambling taxes from 2027. The quarterly levy on gaming machines would rise from BGN 800 (€409) to €600, while charges on gaming tables would increase from BGN 22,000 to €13,000 per quarter. The quarterly tax applied to other gaming equipment would increase from BGN 5,000 to €3,000.
A further overhaul is planned from January 1, 2028, when the current alternative tax system would be replaced by a state-fee model comprising both fixed and variable components. For online betting operators, the minimum monthly fee would be set at €100,000.
The reforms also include higher mandatory contributions towards responsible gambling and addiction prevention programmes. Online betting operators would be required to contribute €60,000, casino operators €20,000 and providers of other gambling products €10,000.
Funds collected through these contributions would be divided equally between the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education.
The legislation also seeks to strengthen regulatory monitoring of the sector. Overseas operators offering online betting services to Bulgarian customers would be required to establish a business presence within the country.
In addition, gambling companies’ systems would be electronically linked to the National Revenue Agency, allowing the tax authority to receive information about bets, winnings and revenues either in real time or at specified intervals. Banks, electronic money institutions and payment service providers processing gambling transactions would be required to transfer to the state any portion of their remuneration exceeding 1.5 per cent of a transaction’s value.
The bill will now proceed to parliamentary committees for consideration.
FAQs
What does Bulgaria’s proposed gambling advertising ban cover? The bill prohibits advertising gambling products, operators and associated brands across all formats, channels and locations, as well as gambling affiliate marketing. Limited trademark displays remain permitted for sponsorships of sports clubs, federations and organisations, alongside initiatives in culture, healthcare and education, though broadcast and online coverage restrictions will apply.
How much will gambling licences cost under Bulgaria’s new Gambling Act? Five-year licence fees will increase to €400,000 for online betting and €300,000 for casinos, lotteries and sports betting. Gaming hall licences will cost €75,000 in municipalities under 500,000 residents and €150,000 in larger cities, while gaming equipment licences will cost €50,000. All fees double for 10-year terms.
When do the new Bulgarian gambling taxes take effect? Quarterly tax increases on gaming equipment take effect in 2027, raising levies on gaming machines to €600, gaming tables to €13,000 and other equipment to €3,000. From January 1, 2028, a new fixed and variable state-fee model will replace the alternative tax system, setting a €100,000 minimum monthly fee for online betting.
What new compliance rules apply to overseas operators in Bulgaria? Overseas operators offering online betting services to Bulgarian customers will be required to establish a business presence in Bulgaria. Additionally, operators must electronically link their systems to the National Revenue Agency for real-time or periodic reporting on bets, winnings and revenues, and contribute €60,000 towards responsible gambling programmes.
