Bulgaria disclosed on July 23, 2026, that it had rejected a proposal to impose an almost complete ban on gambling advertising, preserving the commercial channels still available to licensed operators. The decision was taken on July 21 by the National Assembly’s Budget and Finance Committee during the second-stage debate on the 2026 State Budget, following a session lasting more than 12 hours in which lawmakers considered 69 amendments.
The proposal was promoted by Venko Sabrutev, an MP from We Continue the Change, with support from Democratic Bulgaria. It sought to remove gambling advertisements from cities, close sports-sponsorship loopholes and retain the state-owned Bulgarian Sports Totalisator as the only exception. Sabrutev argued that gambling brands had “taken over the cities” and accused the National Revenue Agency of allowing operators to circumvent restrictions adopted in 2024.
The Ministry of Finance, led by Deputy Prime Minister Galab Donev, defended maintaining the current regime while broader legislation is prepared. Deputy Finance Minister Lyudmila Petkova estimated that 40% of Bulgaria’s gambling market is illegal, leaving regulated channelisation at only 60%. She warned that tighter restrictions or higher charges could shift additional players towards unlicensed platforms. The ministry announced a comprehensive review of the Gambling Act.
Galab Donev
The committee, chaired by Konstantin Prodanov, also rejected a proposal from Martin Dimitrov and Vladislav Panev to raise the levy on stakes minus winnings from 20% to 30% and double certain one-off licensing fees. The government package instead proposes a smaller increase to 25%, affiliate licensing, an annual charge of approximately €6,000, a 10% levy on affiliate commissions and payment blocking for illegal gambling websites.
Martin Dimitrov
The Gambling Act, amended on April 30, 2024, and effective from May 18, prohibits advertising on television, radio, print media and websites. It permits billboards more than 300 metres from educational facilities, limited advertising on casino façades and sports properties, and requires addiction warnings to occupy 10% of each advertisement. The National Revenue Agency, headed by Boris Mihaylov, enforces sanctions, while the Council for Electronic Media, chaired by Gabriela Naplatanova, monitors content. Parliament retains the final decision.
