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