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Sovereign state
Europe
ISO BG

Bulgaria: gambling regulation and licensing

Republic of Bulgaria

  • Online sports bettingRegulated
  • Online casinoRegulated
  • Online pokerRegulated
  • Online bingoRegulated
  • Lottery and iLotteryMonopoly
  • Horse race bettingRegulated
  • Land-based (reference)Regulated
Regulator
National Revenue Agency
Headline tax
20% GGR
Licence required
Yes
Last verified
14 Oct 2026

Summary

Bulgaria licenses online gambling through its tax authority. Under the Gambling Act of 2012 the Executive Director of the National Revenue Agency has been the sole licensing and supervisory authority since the State Commission on Gambling was dissolved on 8 August 2020. Each game type needs its own licence. Online sports and racing betting, casino games including poker, betting on random events and bingo are open to companies registered in Bulgaria, the EU, the EEA or Switzerland. Other lottery games are reserved to the state, which runs them through Bulgarian Sports Totalizator. The NRA whitelist of 11 September 2026 lists 30 licensed websites. Online licensees pay a one off fee of BGN 400,000 and 20 per cent of stakes less winnings each month, plus BGN 60,000 a year per licence for social responsibility. Winnings from licensed play are not taxed. The technical regime is strict: all player, bet and winnings data must sit on a control server in Bulgaria, with real time reporting to the NRA. Since May 2024 advertising has been banned on broadcast, print and online media and in public places, with narrow exceptions for distant billboards, venue facades and sports kit and venues. Banks and payment institutions must block payments to unlicensed operators, and from 1 August 2026 affiliates need an NRA licence and pay EUR 6,000 a year plus 10 per cent of commission. Unlicensed sites are blocked, and players who use them can be fined. A government draft, out for consultation until 23 October 2026 and notified to the European Commission on 2 October, would ban gambling advertising except limited sponsorship, end affiliate licences from 1 January 2027 and raise the online fee to 21% in 2027 and 22% in 2028, with a EUR 100,000 monthly minimum.

Common pitfalls

Assuming an EU licence is enough: each game type needs its own NRA licence, a control server in Bulgaria and, for foreign companies, an authorised representative in Bulgaria. Reading lev amounts as euro: most figures in the Gambling Act are still in lev and convert at BGN 1.95583 to EUR 1. Treating the one off BGN 400,000 fee as annual: it is paid once per licence term, with the 20 per cent charge paid monthly. Overlooking affiliates: since 1 August 2026 promoting an unlicensed operator, or promoting without an affiliate licence, is itself an offence. Treating the government draft as law: the 21 and 22 per cent fee, the EUR 100,000 monthly minimum and the end of affiliate licences are proposals still at consultation.

Key facts

Regulator
National Revenue Agency (NRA)
Regulator type
Government ministry
Headline tax
20% GGR
Licence required
Yes
Minimum age
18+
Tax base
The variable part of the state fee for an online betting licence is 20 per cent of the difference between stakes received and winnings paid; for games where the operator charges fees or commissions for participation, 20 per cent of those fees and commissions (Gambling Act art. 30(4)). It is declared and paid monthly by the 15th of the following month (art. 30(8), (11)). Bonus costs are not deductible for corporate tax (Corporate Income Tax Act art. 26, item 13).
Capital
Sofia
Currency
EUR
Official languages
Bulgarian

How to get a gambling licence in Bulgaria

The regulator is the National Revenue Agency (NRA).

We record 6 licence types for Bulgaria.

For the Affiliate operator licence, the annual fee is €6,000 (as of 1 Aug 2026).

Applications
Accepted on a rolling basis
Time to licence
Statutory: the NRA completes its checks on an initial application within 60 days, extendable by up to 30 days, and decides within 14 days after that; the State Agency for National Security, the Ministry of Interior and the Bulgarian Institute of Metrology give opinions within 30 days (arts. 22, 23, 25). Affiliate applications are checked within 7 days (art. 23(10)).
Local presence
No local establishment is required; servers must be located locally.
Financial guarantee
The funds for organising the game (at least BGN 1,000,000 for online betting) must be held in cash or in a bank account, or secured by an unconditional and irrevocable bank guarantee, for the whole licence term (art. 5(1), item 5 and art. 5(6)).
Headline tax
20% GGR (see Taxation for the full position)

Licence fees in Bulgaria

Licence typeApplication feeAnnual feeTerm
Affiliate operator licenceEUR 6,000 a year, due by 31 March, plus 10 per cent of performance linked commission, withheld and paid monthly by the gambling operator; 20 per cent where the commission is concealed in a sham transaction (art. 30a)Not yet verified€6,000 (as of 1 Aug 2026)Not yet verified

Built from the record on this page, last verified 14 Oct 2026. The Licensing and Taxation sections carry the full detail and sources.

Licensing

Licence required
Yes
Application window
Rolling
Local establishment required
No
Local server required
Yes
Typical time to licence
Statutory: the NRA completes its checks on an initial application within 60 days, extendable by up to 30 days, and decides within 14 days after that; the State Agency for National Security, the Ministry of Interior and the Bulgarian Institute of Metrology give opinions within 30 days (arts. 22, 23, 25). Affiliate applications are checked within 7 days (art. 23(10)).
Bank guarantee or bond
The funds for organising the game (at least BGN 1,000,000 for online betting) must be held in cash or in a bank account, or secured by an unconditional and irrevocable bank guarantee, for the whole licence term (art. 5(1), item 5 and art. 5(6)).
Notable licensees
bet365 (Hillside (New Media Malta) PLC), bwin (Electra Works Europe Limited), PokerStars (TSG Interactive plc), Betano (Kaizen Gaming International Limited), efbet (Brobet Limited), WINBET (Win Bet Online EOOD), Palms Bet (Telematic Interactive Bulgaria AD), Bulgarian Sports Totalizator (state enterprise)
Certification requirements
The central computer system, local control server, communication equipment and game software, and every new software version, must be entered in the Bulgarian Institute of Metrology register on the basis of tests by a laboratory on the NRA register of laboratories, which may be based in Bulgaria, the EU, the EEA or Switzerland (arts. 6(1), item 5; 20(1), item 7). Games other than betting must use a random number generator (art. 47g).
Barriers to entry
Applicants must be companies registered in Bulgaria, the EU, the EEA or Switzerland; offshore owners are barred (arts. 4(1), 8(2)). An online licensee needs fully paid capital of at least BGN 1,500,000 (about EUR 766,938), investments of at least BGN 1,000,000 and at least BGN 1,000,000 of funds for organising the game (arts. 4(2), 5(1)), a control server in Bulgaria holding all player, bet and winnings data, and an authorised representative in Bulgaria if foreign (art. 6). The NRA whitelist of 11 September 2026 lists 30 websites run by 30 licensed organisers, with 60 website and game type entries. The NRA issued 8 online licences in 2025.

Licence types

  • Online betting licence: sports and horse and dog racing

    Scope
    Online betting on sports results and horse and dog races (Gambling Act arts. 41(2), 60). One licence per game type (art. 3(3)).
    Term
    5 years, or 10 years where investments above BGN 2,000,000 have been proven (art. 26(3), (4))
    Fee basis
    Two component state fee: a one off BGN 400,000 (about EUR 204,517) on issue and 20 per cent of stakes received less winnings paid, declared monthly (art. 30(4)); plus an annual social responsibility contribution of BGN 60,000 (about EUR 30,678) per licence (art. 10a)
    Renewal terms
    Renewal applications are filed between 6 and 2 months before expiry; the licence is extended for the same term if there were no final penalty decrees or coercive measures during it, and only the issue and maintenance fees are payable (art. 36).
  • Online casino licence

    Scope
    Online casino games, including table games, poker and slot games (arts. 41(2), 71).
    Term
    5 years, or 10 years where investments above BGN 2,000,000 have been proven (art. 26)
    Fee basis
    As for online betting: one off BGN 400,000, 20 per cent of stakes less winnings or of fees and commissions (art. 30(4)), and BGN 60,000 a year social responsibility contribution (art. 10a)
  • Online betting licence: random events and knowledge of facts

    Scope
    Online betting on random events and on knowledge of facts (art. 62).
    Term
    5 or 10 years (art. 26)
    Fee basis
    As for online betting (art. 30(4))
  • Online bingo licence

    Scope
    Online bingo, the only lottery type game open to private online operators (arts. 4(3), 54, 57).
    Term
    5 or 10 years (art. 26)
    Fee basis
    As for online betting (art. 30(4))
  • Gaming equipment licences (B2B)

    Scope
    Production, distribution and servicing, or import, distribution and servicing, of gaming equipment and software (art. 1, item 2).
    Term
    5 or 10 years (art. 26(4), (5))
  • Affiliate operator licence

    Scope
    Promotion of gambling for a performance linked commission, only for operators licensed in Bulgaria (arts. 1, item 3; 4(7) to (9)). Open to Bulgarian and foreign natural and legal persons; a foreign affiliate must name an authorised representative with an address in Bulgaria.
    Annual fee
    €6,000 as of 1 Aug 2026
    Fee basis
    EUR 6,000 a year, due by 31 March, plus 10 per cent of performance linked commission, withheld and paid monthly by the gambling operator; 20 per cent where the commission is concealed in a sham transaction (art. 30a)
    Renewal terms
    Renewal on application filed at least 2 months before expiry (art. 36(5)).

Taxation

Headline GGR tax
20% GGR
Effective date
1 Jan 2024
Corporate tax
10%
Player winnings tax
None on licensed play. Winnings from gambling organised under a licence under the Gambling Act, or under the law of another EU or EEA state, are not taxable income (Personal Income Taxes Act art. 13(1), item 20). Operators report to the NRA, by 28 February, each resident player whose winnings in the year exceeded BGN 5,000 (Gambling Act art. 47e).
Withholding mechanism
Gambling operators withhold the 10 per cent variable affiliate fee from performance linked commission and pay it monthly (art. 30a(3), (4)).
Tax base
The variable part of the state fee for an online betting licence is 20 per cent of the difference between stakes received and winnings paid; for games where the operator charges fees or commissions for participation, 20 per cent of those fees and commissions (Gambling Act art. 30(4)). It is declared and paid monthly by the 15th of the following month (art. 30(8), (11)). Bonus costs are not deductible for corporate tax (Corporate Income Tax Act art. 26, item 13).

Scheduled changes

  • 21% of stakes less winnings, at least EUR 100,000 a month from 1 Jan 2027
    Proposed

    Government draft amending the Gambling Act (consultation 12738-K, notified to the European Commission as 2026/0536/BG): variable part of the online licence fee raised from 20%, with a minimum of EUR 100,000 a month per operator; the one off fee becomes EUR 400,000. Operators could keep 1% of the variable fee in 2027 and 2% from 2028 if they give it to licensed Olympic sports federations and professional football clubs

  • 22% of stakes less winnings, at least EUR 100,000 a month from 1 Jan 2028
    Proposed

    Second step of the proposed online fee increase in the same draft

  • 20% of stakes less winnings for casinos and gaming halls from 2028 from 1 Jan 2027
    Proposed

    Same draft: casinos and gaming halls taxed on their actual result. The alternative tax on gaming equipment under the Corporate Income Tax Act would rise in 2027 (EUR 600 a quarter per slot machine seat, EUR 13,000 per roulette table, EUR 3,000 per other device) and be abolished from 2028, replaced by a variable licence fee of 20% of stakes less winnings with monthly minimums per machine and table. Payment institutions, banks and e-money firms would pay the state any part of their fee on a gambling deposit or payout above 1.5% of the transaction, and the affiliate fee (art. 30a) would be repealed

Earmarked levies

  • One off state fee on an online licence: BGN 400,000 (about EUR 204,517) per licence, paid before the licence certificate is issued (art. 30(4), (10)) (National Revenue Agency)
  • Annual contribution for socially responsible behaviour: Per licence: BGN 60,000 (about EUR 30,678) for online betting, BGN 20,000 for casino games, BGN 10,000 for other games, due by 31 March (art. 10a) (Ministry of Youth and Sports and Ministry of Health, 50 per cent each, including treatment and prevention of gambling addiction)
  • Affiliate state fee: EUR 6,000 a year per affiliate licence plus 10 per cent of performance linked commission, withheld by the operator (art. 30a) (National Revenue Agency)
  • Alternative tax on land based gaming equipment: BGN 800 a quarter per slot machine seat; BGN 22,000 a quarter per roulette table; BGN 5,000 a quarter per other casino device (Corporate Income Tax Act art. 245) (State budget)

Compliance

Minimum age
18+
KYC timing
At registration, before any play (art. 47a)
AML regime
Licensed gambling organisers are obliged entities under the Measures Against Money Laundering Act (art. 4, item 21) and apply customer due diligence on winnings paid or stakes placed of EUR 2,000 or more (art. 12). Systematic AML breaches can lead to temporary or permanent withdrawal of the gambling licence (Gambling Act arts. 85(2), 86(2)).
AML supervisor
National Revenue Agency, as AML supervisor of licensed gambling organisers, with the Financial Intelligence Directorate of the State Agency for National Security
Loss limits
Article 10zh, in force since 1 January 2025, requires an ordinance of the Ministers of Finance and Health setting maximum losses per period, after which the player is entered temporarily in the exclusion register, with lower limits for under-24s. No adopted ordinance was found; a draft proposes a daily cap of 10 average monthly private sector wages (5 for under-24s).
Session limits
The same art. 10zh ordinance is to set a maximum time on betting sites; the draft proposes 4 hours without a break (2 hours for under-24s). Not adopted.
Affordability checks
Since 1 January 2025 the NRA enters in the exclusion register, at least monthly, recipients of monthly social assistance, people on the Health Act psychiatric register and people under guardianship, and operators must refuse them (art. 10e). Operators may not lend or give credit to players (art. 46).
Source of funds thresholds
Customer due diligence at winnings or stakes totalling EUR 2,000 or more (Measures Against Money Laundering Act art. 12(1)). Applicants for a licence must prove the origin of their funds (Gambling Act art. 8(2)).
Central monitoring system
The central computer system must send the NRA server, in real time, concurrent sessions, each stake and each win, and register every transaction online with the NRA (art. 6(1), item 4). The NRA and the State Agency for National Security have continuous remote access to the local control server (art. 47d).
Data localisation
All data on gambling services offered in Bulgaria, including registration and identification of players, stakes and winnings, must be stored on a local control server in Bulgaria and kept for 5 years after the limitation period of the related public claims; IP geolocation and session data are kept for at least 12 months (art. 6(4), (5)).
KYC requirements
Every participant in online betting must register individually under the ordinance on identification and registration of participants; under-18s and people on the exclusion register may not play (Gambling Act arts. 2(3), 10d(3), 47a). Operator websites must show, in Bulgarian, the operator, its NRA licence, the game rules and how to complain to the operator and to the NRA (art. 47v).
Stake limits
The art. 10zh ordinance is to set maximum stakes for certain games and time bands. Not adopted.
Mandatory player messaging
Websites must show prominently a warning about the risk of gambling addiction and information on counselling and treatment, and tell players they can ask to be entered in the exclusion register (art. 10b).
Reporting obligations
Monthly fee declaration by the 15th (art. 30(8)); annual social responsibility contribution paid by 31 March, with a declaration also required from 1 January 2027 (art. 10a(3)); annual report of residents winnings above BGN 5,000 by 28 February (art. 47e); a mandatory NRA inspection at the end of the first and every third year of a licence (art. 89(3)).
Game content restrictions
Online slot software must return at least 80 per cent of stakes (art. 65(2)). The exemption for skill games does not apply online, so skill games offered online are treated as gambling (art. 11(2)).

Advertising

Advertising permitted
Yes
Affiliate rules
Since 1 August 2026 affiliates paid on performance must hold an NRA licence, may work only for operators licensed in Bulgaria and must follow the advertising limits (arts. 4(7) to (9), 9(19), (20), 10(9)). The licence application lists every website, app, social media profile and streaming channel used. Licensed affiliates pay EUR 6,000 a year plus 10 per cent of commission. Affiliates already working on 1 August 2026 had until 15 August 2026 to apply.
Sponsorship rules
Brands may appear on sports kit, sports facilities, halls, stadiums and pools and on products of sports federations and clubs, except kit and products intended for minors (art. 10(2), item 3). Licensed operators may sponsor events supporting sport, culture, health, education, social causes and prevention and treatment of gambling addiction within the advertising limits (art. 10(5)).
Celebrity and influencer rules
No specific provision. Gambling advertising is defined to include any commercial message, recommendation or action that uses a gambling name or an operator trade mark (Paragraph 1, item 23 of the Additional Provisions), and online media and websites are within the ban.
Social media rules
Electronic media including websites are within the ban. The NRA can order blocking of affiliate websites, apps, social media profiles and video and streaming channels that promote gambling without a valid licence (art. 17(1), item 9a), and can order removal of illegal gambling advertising under the EU Digital Services Act (art. 88a).
Bonus advertising rules
No figures may appear in permitted advertising (art. 10(6)), and information about gambling beyond the permitted content may not be published or broadcast.
Mandatory warnings
At least 10 per cent of the area of billboard, facade and sports venue advertising must carry the text "Хазартът носи риск от развиване на зависимост" (Gambling carries a risk of developing addiction) (art. 10(4)).
Penalties for breach
Operators: BGN 30,000 to 50,000 (art. 105(1)) and temporary withdrawal of the licence for 3 to 6 months for advertising beyond what art. 10(2) allows (art. 85(1), item 2). Publishers and broadcasters: BGN 10,000 to 30,000, or a fine of BGN 5,000 to 10,000 for individuals (art. 105(2)). Affiliates: EUR 2,000 to 5,000, or EUR 3,000 to 8,000 for companies (art. 105(3)); unlicensed affiliates EUR 5,000 to 20,000 (art. 97b).

Restrictions

  • Banned on radio and television, except the draws of Bulgarian Sports Totalizator and their announcement (Gambling Act art. 10(1), item 1)
  • Banned in print and electronic media, including websites (art. 10(1), item 3)
  • Banned in public places, including building facades, and on state or municipal property other than licensed venues (art. 10(1), items 2 and 4)
  • Billboards allowed only at least 300 metres from schools, universities, community centres, playgrounds, student hostels and social services for children, and gambling may take no more than 5 per cent of any outdoor advertising provider inventory (art. 10(1), item 5 and art. 10(2), item 1)
  • Venue facades may carry advertising for that venue up to 20 per cent of the facade and no more than 50 square metres (art. 10(2), item 2)
  • Permitted advertising may state only game names and types, the registered trade mark, and draws and wins, and may not contain figures (art. 10(3), (6))
  • Anyone publishing gambling information must check the NRA register that the operator is licensed before signing the contract (art. 10(7))

Payments

Credit card ban
Not yet verified
Crypto stance
Not addressed
Permitted methods
Cashless payments only, through the operator account at a bank licensed in Bulgaria, the EU, the EEA or Switzerland (Gambling Act arts. 6(1), item 3 and 47b)
Payment blocking regime
Payment institutions, banks and e-money institutions may not process payments for online gambling to or from operators without a Bulgarian licence, or operators on the NRA register of blocked unlicensed operators (art. 9(13)); breaches cost BGN 50,000 to 200,000, doubled on repetition (art. 97a(1)). Since 1 August 2026 the NRA sends them, at least monthly, the IBANs and POS terminal numbers of operators on the register of blocked unlicensed operators and of those whose licences were refused, terminated or withdrawn (art. 10z). Postal money orders from under-18s to operators, or to and from unlicensed operators, are banned (art. 9(16)), as is the sale of prepaid vouchers for online betting (art. 9(17)).
Withdrawal timeframe rules
Winnings must be paid in the period and manner set in the operator approved rules (art. 47(1)); failure is punished by a sanction of twice the unpaid amount, at least BGN 1,000 (art. 112).
Currency restrictions
Since 1 January 2026 stakes and winnings must be in euro (art. 3(4)).

Enforcement

ISP blocking
Yes
DNS blocking
Not yet verified
Payment blocking
Yes
App store takedowns
Yes
Administrative penalties
Unlicensed online operation: BGN 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 for a company, rising to BGN 2,000,000 to 5,000,000 (about EUR 2,556,459) where proceeds exceed BGN 5,000,000, doubled on repetition (Gambling Act art. 96). Licensees face temporary withdrawal of the licence for 3 to 6 months or permanent withdrawal (arts. 85, 86). Money and equipment used in unlicensed gambling are confiscated (art. 93).
Criminal penalties
Organising gambling other than as the law provides: up to 6 years imprisonment and a fine of BGN 20,000 to 100,000; 1 to 8 years and BGN 40,000 to 200,000 in aggravated cases (Criminal Code art. 327(1), (2)).
Operator liability
The NRA identifies unlicensed sites and publishes decisions ordering them to stop; internet service providers must block listed sites within 24 hours of a decision or face BGN 50,000 to 200,000 (arts. 9(12), 17(1), item 9, 17(6), 97a(4)). The NRA also publishes orders of the Sofia District Court stopping access to unlicensed betting sites. The NRA annual report for 2025 records 394 investigations of unlicensed sites, 2,274 illegal websites stopped, 30 infringement acts and 26 penalty decrees under the Gambling Act; it does not say whether the 2,274 figure is cumulative, so it is not recorded as the blocklist size.
Player liability
Taking part in gambling offered by an operator without a Bulgarian licence is prohibited (Gambling Act art. 9(14)) and punishable by a fine of BGN 500 to 2,000 (art. 97a(2)). The Criminal Code also punishes taking part in gambling organised outside the law with up to 1 year imprisonment or probation (art. 327(3)).

Notable actions

  • Unlicensed online gambling websites17 Sept 2026

    NRA decision No R-TsU-30-169 identifying online betting sites without a Bulgarian licence, the latest in a series of decisions published in 2026 (others dated 24 August, 27 July, 14 July and 7 July 2026)

  • Unlicensed websites and licensed operators (2025 totals)31 Dec 2025

    394 investigations of unlicensed sites, 2,274 illegal websites stopped, 399 complaints closed, 30 infringement acts, 26 penalty decrees and 4 settlements at 70 per cent of the sanction

Market data

Figures on this record are drawn from official regulator data.

Online GGR
Not yet verified
Reporting year
2026
Licensed operators
30

Timeline

  1. 30 Mar 2012

    Gambling Act published in State Gazette No 26; in force from 1 July 2012

  2. 1 Jan 2014

    Current online betting licence regime takes effect, with a local control server and real time reporting

  3. 8 Aug 2020

    State Commission on Gambling dissolved; the NRA takes over licensing and supervision

  4. 14 May 2024

    State Gazette No 42 publishes the advertising ban, player liability for unlicensed play, and ISP and payment blocking

  5. 1 Jan 2025

    Automatic exclusion of social assistance recipients and other vulnerable groups begins

  6. 1 Jan 2026

    Bulgaria joins the euro area; stakes and winnings must be in euro

  7. 31 Jul 2026

    The 2026 State Budget Act, published in State Gazette No 69, amends the Gambling Act to license affiliates

  8. 1 Aug 2026

    Affiliate licensing, the affiliate fee and extended payment blocking take effect

  9. 15 Aug 2026

    Deadline for existing affiliates to apply for a licence

  10. 4 Sept 2026

    Bill No 52-654-01-128 for a near total advertising ban submitted to the National Assembly

  11. 9 Sept 2026

    Bill No 52-654-01-130 on advertising, crypto payments and search engines submitted

  12. 17 Sept 2026

    NRA decision No R-TsU-30-169 identifies further unlicensed betting sites

  13. 23 Sept 2026

    Ministry of Finance publishes for consultation (12738-K) a draft with a near total advertising ban, the end of affiliate licences and a higher online fee

  14. 2 Oct 2026

    Draft notified to the European Commission under the TRIS procedure as 2026/0536/BG

  15. 23 Oct 2026

    Public consultation on the government draft closes

Outlook

The next twelve months turn on the government draft amending the Gambling Act, out for consultation until 23 October 2026 and notified to the European Commission as 2026/0536/BG on 2 October: an advertising ban leaving only venue signs, operator websites, state lottery draws and sponsorship of licensed sport, the end of affiliate licences from 1 January 2027, an online fee of 21% in 2027 and 22% in 2028 with a EUR 100,000 monthly minimum, a place of business in Bulgaria for foreign online licensees, and a 20% fee on casinos and gaming halls from 2028. The Council of Ministers must approve the bill before it goes to the National Assembly, and the draft would mostly take effect on 1 January 2027. Two MPs bills with wider advertising bans and a ban on crypto transfers to unlicensed operators (Nos 52-654-01-128 and 52-654-01-130) are before the Budget and Finance Committee. The affiliate licensing regime that started on 1 August 2026 is bedding in, and the ordinance on session, loss and stake limits required by art. 10zh since January 2025 has still not been adopted.

Frequently asked questions

Who regulates gambling in Bulgaria?
The Executive Director of the National Revenue Agency, under the Gambling Act. The NRA took over from the State Commission on Gambling, which was dissolved on 8 August 2020.
Can a foreign operator get a Bulgarian online licence?
Yes, if it is a company registered in the EU, the EEA or Switzerland, with no offshore owners. It needs a separate licence for each game type, fully paid capital of at least BGN 1,500,000, a local control server in Bulgaria and an authorised representative with an address in Bulgaria.
What does an online operator pay?
A one off state fee of BGN 400,000 per licence, 20 per cent of stakes received less winnings paid each month, and an annual social responsibility contribution of BGN 60,000 per licence. Corporate tax is 10 per cent. Player winnings from licensed play are not taxed. A government draft would raise the 20 per cent to 21 per cent in 2027 and 22 per cent in 2028, with a minimum of EUR 100,000 a month; it is still at consultation.
Can private operators run an online lottery?
Only bingo. Lottery games other than raffles and bingo can be licensed only to the state, which runs them through the state enterprise Bulgarian Sports Totalizator.
Do gambling affiliates need a licence?
Yes, since 1 August 2026. Affiliates paid on performance must hold an NRA licence, may promote only operators licensed in Bulgaria, and pay EUR 6,000 a year plus 10 per cent of their commission, withheld by the operator.
Is it an offence to play on an unlicensed site?
Yes. Playing with an operator without a Bulgarian licence is prohibited and can be fined BGN 500 to 2,000 under the Gambling Act, and the Criminal Code punishes taking part in illegal gambling with up to a year in prison or probation.
Is Bulgaria banning gambling advertising?
It is proposed, not law. A government draft out for consultation until 23 October 2026 would ban advertising of gambling games, operators and their trade marks in any form, leaving only game information on operator websites and venues, state lottery draws, limited venue signs and sponsorship of licensed sport, and would end affiliate licences from 1 January 2027. The current Gambling Act already bans broadcast, print, online and most public place advertising.
How much does a gambling licence cost in Bulgaria?
For the Affiliate operator licence, the annual fee is €6,000 (as of 1 Aug 2026). The Licensing section lists all 6 licence types recorded for Bulgaria. Last verified 14 Oct 2026.
Is online gambling legal in Bulgaria?
Online casino and online sports betting are both legal for licensed operators in Bulgaria. The status of every vertical is at the top of this page. Last verified 14 Oct 2026.
How long does it take to get a gambling licence in Bulgaria?
Statutory: the NRA completes its checks on an initial application within 60 days, extendable by up to 30 days, and decides within 14 days after that; the State Agency for National Security, the Ministry of Interior and the Bulgarian Institute of Metrology give opinions within 30 days (arts. 22, 23, 25). Affiliate applications are checked within 7 days (art. 23(10)). Last verified 14 Oct 2026.

Events in Bulgaria

No upcoming events in Bulgaria are listed yet. See the full events calendar.

Past events

Glossary and directory

iGT coverage of Bulgaria

Google Rewrites Its Gambling Ad Certification and Splits It by Country
Regulatory

YouTube Opens Its Masthead to Certified Online Gambling Advertisers From 21 October

Google will let certified online gambling advertisers buy the slot at the top of YouTube's homepage from 21 October, widening a carve-out that has covered only sports betting since 2022. The notice names no markets, and it arrives in a month when European lawmakers are moving to restrict gambling advertising rather than extend it.

Kalshi targets 40bn valuation
Prediction Markets

Czechia Adds Kalshi to Its Gambling Blocklist, 11 Weeks After Polymarket

The Ministry of Finance has listed kalshi.com as a site offering prohibited gambling, and internet providers must block it by 15 October. The order covers the website only, but it puts the largest US prediction market on the same footing in Czechia as an unlicensed online casino.

Sources

Source tiers. Tier 1: the law, official gazette, licence register or regulator itself. Tier 2: other official sources such as ministries, parliaments, courts and statistics agencies. Tier 3: established trade press, used to find and date the primary source. Only tier 1 and tier 2 sources can support a fact on their own.

  1. Gambling Act (Zakon za hazarta), consolidated text to State Gazette No 69 of 31 July 2026

    National Revenue Agency (Natsionalna agentsia za prihodite) (translated)

    Consolidated text published by the NRA on 4 August 2026. It was checked phrase by phrase against the consolidated text on the Lex.bg legal database for the provisions cited in this record and matched.

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 4 Aug 2026
  2. State Budget of the Republic of Bulgaria Act 2026, State Gazette No 69 of 31 July 2026, section 34 (amendments to the Gambling Act) and transitional sections 35, 36 and 48

    State Gazette (Darzhaven vestnik), National Assembly of Bulgaria (translated)

    The State Gazette site returned a maintenance page on 23 September 2026; the amendments and transitional section 35 were checked in the NRA consolidated Gambling Act, which reproduces them.

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 31 Jul 2026
  3. Online gambling: licence requirements and types of game (Onlayn hazart)

    National Revenue Agency (Natsionalna agentsia za prihodite) (translated)

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
  4. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
  5. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 11 Sept 2026
  6. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
  7. Registers under the Gambling Act

    National Revenue Agency (Natsionalna agentsia za prihodite) (translated)

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
  8. Responsible gambling: register of vulnerable persons

    National Revenue Agency (Natsionalna agentsia za prihodite) (translated)

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
  9. Gambling (transfer of the functions of the State Commission on Gambling to the NRA)

    National Revenue Agency (Natsionalna agentsia za prihodite)

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
  10. Prevention of money laundering in the gambling sector

    National Revenue Agency (Natsionalna agentsia za prihodite) (translated)

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
  11. Annual report on the activity of the NRA for 2025, section 3.14 (supervision of gambling)

    National Revenue Agency (Natsionalna agentsia za prihodite) (translated)

    Tier 2Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 30 Mar 2026
  12. Corporate Income Tax Act (consolidated, September 2026), arts. 20, 26 and 245

    National Revenue Agency (Natsionalna agentsia za prihodite) (translated)

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
  13. Personal Income Taxes Act (consolidated, September 2026), art. 13(1), item 20

    National Revenue Agency (Natsionalna agentsia za prihodite) (translated)

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
  14. Measures Against Money Laundering Act, arts. 4 and 12 (consolidated text to State Gazette No 51 of 5 June 2026)

    Lex.bg legal database (translated)

    Private legal database reproducing the statute; no official consolidated text was found on a government host. It backs only the EUR 2,000 due diligence threshold, alongside the NRA page on AML supervision.

    Tier 3Accessed 23 Sept 2026
  15. Criminal Code, art. 327 (as amended by State Gazette No 42 of 2024)

    Lex.bg legal database (translated)

    Private legal database reproducing the statute; no official consolidated text of the Criminal Code was found on a government host.

    Tier 3Accessed 23 Sept 2026
  16. Tier 2Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 4 Sept 2026
  17. Tier 2Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 9 Sept 2026
  18. Rumen Radev: we are introducing a practically complete ban on gambling advertising

    Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria (translated)

    Tier 2Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 23 Sept 2026
  19. Draft Ordinance on limiting risky behaviour in online betting (under art. 10zh of the Gambling Act)

    Ministry of Health of the Republic of Bulgaria (translated)

    Marked as a draft. The file is dated 5 June 2025 in its metadata; no adopted ordinance was found in the NRA list of gambling regulations or elsewhere.

    Tier 2Accessed 23 Sept 2026
  20. Bulgaria joins the euro area

    European Central Bank

    Tier 2Accessed 23 Sept 2026
  21. Tier 2Accessed 14 Oct 2026Published 2 Oct 2026
  22. Tier 2Accessed 14 Oct 2026Published 23 Sept 2026
  23. Tier 2Accessed 14 Oct 2026Published 23 Sept 2026

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This page is industry reference information and not legal advice.

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