Bulgaria's Council of Ministers has approved Prime Minister Rumen Radev's draft gambling reforms, marking the most significant restriction on marketing in the sector to date.
The most radical change is a complete ban on affiliate marketing of gambling products, reversing the government's August decision to introduce a licensing route for affiliates. Marketing restrictions extend across all communication channels—outdoor and indoor advertising—with exceptions only for sports sponsorships, land-based venues, operator websites and public funding initiatives.
Tax overhaul
The reforms convert gambling taxes from Bulgarian Leva to Euros ahead of Bulgaria's 2027 budget as a eurozone member. Tax on individual gaming machines rises from BGN 800 (€400) to €600. Gaming tables move from BGN 22,000 (€11,200) to €13,000.
Land-based operators pay licence fees scaled by city size and term. A five-year licence costs €75,000 for settlements under 500,000 residents and €150,000 for larger cities; ten-year licences double these amounts. Online betting platforms pay €400,000 for a five-year licence and €300,000 for online casinos, with rates doubling for ten years.
The draft also imposes fees on payment organisations processing gambling transactions, an uncommon approach in European gambling law. The bill now faces review by special commissions and two readings in the National Assembly before enactment.
