Overview
Open
Bulgaria Online Gaming Overview
Regulated
Gambling is a regulated and licensable activity in Bulgaria. The Gambling Act 2012 does not distinguish between online gambling and land-based gambling but rather recognises online mediums as mechanisms providing general gambling.
Article 2 of the Gambling Act defines gambling as “any game of chance whereupon a wager is made and there may be either winning or a loss of the wager.” The following gambling activities are regulated and permitted:
- Sports betting
- Betting (on random events e.g. betting on lotteries, or as a result of knowledge of facts but excluding sports betting)
- Casino betting (including poker and other card games)
- Raffles, bingo and keno
Market size
The Bulgarian gambling industry was predicted to generate BGN200m in taxes for the country’s budget in 2024.
Competitive landscape
A total of 32 online gambling licenses have been granted to 16 companies by the Bulgarian State Commission for Gambling. These companies currently run a number of sites, the official list as at May 2022 can be online.
Localisation
Payment methods popular in Bulgaria:
- A1 (previously Mtel or Mobiltel) is also among the most popular deposit methods in Bulgarian online casinos. It is available only to subscribers of the mobile operator A1. To make such a payment, one needs to request an SMS code, then enter it in the indicated field. The amount of the deposit will be charged to the user’s monthly bill with the mobile operator
- bg is an electronic wallet through which one can make secure payments on betting sites
Top Key Attractions and Challenges
Attractions
- Rapidly growing market with a population with a relatively large propensity for gambling
- Regulated jurisdiction where most land based and online gambling activities are permitted
- The organisation and conduct of gambling in Bulgaria may be carried out by entities in or from another EU or EEA Member State or Switzerland with minimal infrastructure, and integration requirements
Challenges
- Advertising is restrictive to information on the games themselves rather than any form of enticement
- High initial investment / capitalisation costs
- Bulgarian Sports Totalisator has monopoly control in Bingo, Lottery and Offline sports betting
Products
Licensing & Regulation
Well-regulated / Unregulated (Open)
Bulgaria Online Gaming Licensing & Regulation
Licence Triggers
Making facilities for gambling available to persons based in Bulgaria.
Array/ Type of licence needed
Separate online and land based licences for casino, betting, lottery/ bingo (except raffles and instant lottery which are state controlled) where all forms of online gambling are classified as “online betting” by the law.
Period of licence & renewal process
...
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Products
Enforcement
Irregular / Mixed impact
Bulgaria Online Gaming Enforcement
Regulating bodies
Supervision by Regulator
The NRA is responsible for supervision of licensed operators, it’s not clear how stringent this supervision activity is.
Enforcement against licensed operators
Sanctions
According to Article 327 of the Penal Code, those that organise gambling...
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Products
Marketing
Restricted
Bulgaria Online Gaming Marketing
Direct advertising of gambling is prohibited. This is defined as a form of enticement to participate in a game such as bonus promotions. Instead operators can only provide basic information on the game itself.
Sponsorship of sporting and other events is however permitted for licensed operators. Proposed ban to be implemented on the 1st of January, from 5am to 6pm...
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Products
Fees
High
Bulgaria Online Gaming Fees
Application fees
Under the Act, fees for the examination of documents (an application fee) are a minimum of BGN 2,000 (EUR 1,000) and licenses cost between BGN 5,000 (EUR 2,500) and BGN 35,000 (EUR 17,500).
By virtue of Article 30(4) of the Gambling Act, there is an additional one-off fee of BGN 100,000 (EUR 50,000) is also payable.
Ongoing...
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Taxes
Average
Bulgaria Online Gaming Taxes
Licence Taxes
Online gambling: 15% of Gross Gambling Revenue.
For land based casinos there’s a fixed tax per game (roulette, slot machines, etc).
For gambling other than land based or online i.e., telephone – is subject to 15% of any margin.
Land based sports or events betting, lotto, bingo, keno and similar games: 15% on the bets placed /...
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Future Outlook
Uncertain
Bulgaria Online Gaming Future Outlook
Although the current gambling regime in Bulgaria is relatively new, the legal framework and jurisprudence regarding gambling in Bulgaria is quite settled and the law is not expected to change in any material way in the near future. This is especially so following the expiry of the European Commission’s standstill period in February 2021 in respect of various Bulgarian regulations,...
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Products
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Legal Expert
Ramparts
Office locations
Gibraltar
Based in Gibraltar, Ramparts law firm specialises in providing advice on Gibraltar, UK, Irish and EU law.
Ramparts assists gaming, payments and crypto asset businesses with their global cross-border regulatory issues and strategies, as well as corporate and commercial matters (including licensing, contracts, AML/CTF requirements and finding suitable business partners and payment service providers).
Ramparts was established as a law firm in 2012 to support Gibraltar’s gaming, e-payments and fintech industries. In 2015, Ramparts established a fiduciary business under the same brand. Their fiduciary team assists clients with compliance support, accounts and tax filings, company administration, establishing and managing trusts and private foundations and funds administration.
Contact Bulgaria - Ramparts
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