TLDR
- Prime Minister Roumen Radev confirmed that draft changes to Bulgaria’s Gambling Act will be released for public consultation.
- The plan includes what Radev called a “practically full ban of gambling promotions.”
- Online operators have paid 25% of gross gaming revenue since January 2026, and another tax increase is being considered.
- Opposition parties want a full ban on outdoor gambling ads, with fines of up to €150,000.
- Sports sponsorship would remain the only allowed form of promotion, though this could change after consultation.
Bulgaria’s government plans to sharply limit gambling advertising and may raise taxes on the industry. Prime Minister Roumen Radev shared the plans at a Council of Ministers meeting on September 23, 2026.
He confirmed that draft changes to the Gambling Act will be released for public consultation. Radev said the changes include a “practically full ban of gambling promotions.”
Radev Calls for Stricter Control of Gambling
“We want to introduce a new, far stricter model for regulatory control over the sector,” Radev told the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency.
He said the reforms aim to bring “more transparency, fairer taxation and most importantly, minimisation of gambling harm.”
Radev said advertising will be the first major change. “We don’t want gambling to be present in the everyday life of Bulgarian citizens,” he said. “We don’t want aggressive marketing, which reaches young people and children.”
His comments came only days after MP Stefan Belchev spoke on the issue. Belchev, who chairs the Economic Policy Committee, suggested the measures would likely tighten advertising rules rather than ban ads outright.
The full scope of the limits will be known once the draft texts are published. According to SBC News, tax increases will also be part of the consultation.
Tax Rates and Advertising Rules Under Review
Since January 2026, online gambling operators in Bulgaria have paid 25% of their gross gaming revenue. This rate followed a 5% increase approved in the 2025 budget. Operators also pay the standard 10% corporate tax.
Earlier this year, opposition parties pushed for an even higher rate. They said the state needed more money to cover a growing budget deficit.
That proposal was rejected when the 2026 budget passed in July. Since then, Radev has raised the possibility of another increase.
He told the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency that a new tax structure could create “pathways to fund sports and education.”
Opposition groups want tougher steps. We Continue the Change (PP) and Yes Bulgaria (DB) have called for a complete ban on outdoor gambling advertising.
They also want fines of up to €150,000 for operators that break the rules.
Current law already bans gambling ads on radio and television, with an exception for the state lottery. Ads are still allowed in print, online and in public spaces.
If the new rules are adopted, sponsorship of sports teams and venues would be the only allowed form of promotion. The proposed ban would even cover illuminated signs outside casinos and gaming halls.
Radev’s cabinet has said sports sponsorship rights will be kept for now. However, this could change once the consultation process ends.
