Bulgarian government proposes near total gambling advertising ban
Proposed new gambling reforms in Bulgaria would also include a ban on illuminated casino facades and new tax hikes.
Bulgaria.- The government is preparing major reforms to gambling legislation in Bulgaria, including a near-total ban on gambling advertising. Prime Minister Rumen Radev confirmed yesterday that a consultation will be opened on the measures alongside a proposal for new criminal penalties for customs violations.
The proposed changes through amendments to the Gambling Act form part of a broader effort by the government to tighten oversight of the gambling sector, reduce addiction-related harm and strengthen enforcement against organised crime. According to the Sofia News Agency, Radev said the government was determined to reduce the visibility of gambling in everyday life, particularly for younger audiences.
“The goal is greater transparency, fairer taxation, and, above all, curbing gambling addiction,” Radev said.
Under the proposals, gambling advertising would be almost entirely prohibited. The only significant exception would allow sports sponsorship visibility through branding on team kits and sports facilities. The government also intends to outlaw illuminated casino and gaming hall facades, arguing that such displays have become excessively prominent in towns and cities across the country.
“The lights on casino and gaming hall facades are so intense and alluring that our towns and villages have come to resemble Las Vegas; therefore, we are banning them as well,” the prime minister said.
The reforms would also overhaul the taxation framework for land-based gambling venues. Casinos and gaming halls would be taxed based on their actual financial performance, while enhanced safeguards would be introduced to combat money laundering and tax avoidance.
As part of the planned regulatory upgrades, all gaming equipment would be required to connect to the National Revenue Agency in real time, enabling continuous monitoring and oversight.
Radev suggested that online gambling operators would also face a further tax hike following the rise in GGR tax from 20 to 25 per cent earlier in the year. There are plans to introduce mechanisms ensuring that a portion of gambling-related revenue is channelled towards sport and education initiatives. The government had previously rejected a proposal from the Democratic Bulgaria party to increase the rate to 30 per cent but noted that measures would be considered in its proposals to amend the Gambling Act.
Foreign gambling companies seeking licences in Bulgaria would be required to formally register their operations within the country as part of a push for greater accountability and regulatory control.
“Anyone operating in the Bulgarian market and profiting from it must report here, pay taxes here and be subject to full control by the Bulgarian state,” Radev said.
Alongside the gambling reforms, the cabinet is proposing amendments to the Penal Code that would classify customs violations. as criminal offences rather than administrative breaches. According to Radev, previous governments had lacked the political determination to introduce such measures.
