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Bulgarian efforts to regulate gambling and credit sectors

Updated 11 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-10-06 07:07 UTC → 2026-10-23 11:26 UTC · added removed

Bulgarian political parties and the government are advancing legislative measures to regulate the gambling and credit industries. In the gambling sector, the government has proposed significant amendments to the Gambling Act, scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027. The draft introduces a hybrid taxation model for land-based casinos and gaming halls, replacing the previous system based on physical capacity. Under this proposal, operators would face a 20% tax on Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) and high mandatory monthly minimums. minimums, including up to 4,500 euros for roulette tables. Other measures include significant one-time licensing fees and a requirement that venues be located in settlements with more than 10,000 inhabitants and a total ban on online advertising. By October 2026, Finance Minister Galiub Donev announced inhabitants. Efforts to curb gambling addiction include a forthcoming total proposed near-total ban on gambling advertising that will extend to across television and the removal of billboards internet, as well as restrictions on aggressive lighting and neon lights screens to prevent addiction. This follows a period of rapid growth in online betting, with turnover rising cities from 44 billion levs in 2023 to approximately 67 billion levs in 2025. Concerns regarding addiction management persist. looking like ‘Las Vegas’. While over 53,000 Bulgarians utilized advocacy groups like the National Revenue Agency’s Register of Vulnerable Persons since late 2022, 2024 legislative changes reduced the period Network for requesting removal from the exclusion register from two years to just 30 days, resulting in over 10,000 people regaining access Children are pushing for a total ban to gambling services by early 2025. protect minors from sports sponsorship and branding, experts warn that such restrictions could impact sports financing and drive users toward unregulated offshore operators. Regarding the credit sector, the Bulgarian Parliament is debating new regulations for consumer credit to implement an EU directive, seeking directive. Proposed reforms aim to tighten rules protect consumers from predatory practices by capping total costs for short-term loans, banning unsolicited credits, and preventing lenders from bypassing interest rate ceilings through hidden fees. Additional measures include increasing minimum capital requirements for fast loans credit firms and ban unsolicited credits. restricting lending to individuals with gambling addictions.

Versions

  1. 2026-10-23 11:26 UTC Bulgarian efforts to regulate gambling and credit sectors
  2. 2026-10-06 07:07 UTC Bulgarian efforts to regulate gambling and credit sectors
  3. 2026-10-05 07:14 UTC Bulgarian efforts to regulate gambling and credit sectors
  4. 2026-10-04 11:21 UTC Bulgarian efforts to regulate gambling and credit sectors
  5. 2026-10-03 08:24 UTC Bulgarian efforts to regulate gambling and credit sectors
  6. 2026-09-29 04:52 UTC Bulgarian efforts to regulate gambling and credit sectors
  7. 2026-09-26 10:06 UTC Bulgarian efforts to regulate gambling and credit sectors
  8. 2026-09-23 11:16 UTC Bulgarian efforts to regulate gambling and credit sectors
  9. 2026-09-23 10:32 UTC Bulgarian efforts to regulate gambling and credit sectors
  10. 2026-09-23 10:20 UTC Bulgarian efforts to regulate gambling and credit sectors
  11. 2026-09-13 14:22 UTC Bulgarian legislative efforts to regulate gambling and fast-
  12. 2026-09-11 06:17 UTC Bulgarian legislative efforts to regulate gambling and fast-

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