Plovdiv casino faces 160 violations following tax inspector sting

Tax inspectors from the National Revenue Agency (NAP) conducted a sting operation at a casino in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, using the ‘mystery shopper’ method. Inspectors registered themselves as individuals on the national register of vulnerable persons—those prohibited from gambling due to addiction—to test if the establishment would comply with entry restrictions. While the casino staff correctly denied them entry based on their identification, a subsequent five-hour audit revealed over 160 violations related to improper accounting.

This inspection is part of a broader nationwide crackdown on the gambling sector. Between September 19, 2025, and the present, the NAP has conducted 626 inspections across the country, identifying 966 violations. These enforcement actions have resulted in total fines amounting to approximately 632,000 euros. Many of these sanctions pertain to accounting errors rather than direct tax evasion. The agency continues to monitor gambling venues during both day and night shifts to ensure compliance with regulations regarding the vulnerable persons register, which currently contains over 45,000 individuals.