Online gambling regulation in Bulgaria

Prohibited. Gambling Act 2012, as amended in 2024, provisions banning gambling games advertising in electronic media, including websites (exact article number not confirmed)

Advertising unlicensed or illegal online gambling is generally prohibited as part of broad ban on gambling advertising, with sanctions and potential licence loss.

National Revenue Agency (NRA) – Executive Director as gambling licensing and supervisory authority

Gambling Act 2012 (as amended, particularly advertising amendments adopted May 2024)

Online casino: Licensed. Online sports betting: Licensed.

The regulator publishes a register of licensed operators. NRA maintains online registers of authorised gambling operators and licensed affiliates.

https://nra.bg/gambling-register

• Blacklist of unlicensed gambling websites, published by NRA
• Payment blocking for transactions to blacklisted operators
• Administrative fines and licence suspension/revocation for violations
• Criminal liability for organising unlicensed gambling (Gambling Act, general provisions)

• Near-total ban: no gambling advertising in print or electronic media, including websites, radio and TV
• Outdoor ads only in limited formats and locations, with distance rules from educational institutions
• Mandatory warning text: “Gambling poses a risk of developing addiction” covering at least 10% of ad area
• Trademark/domain use allowed only without calls to play, bonuses, prizes or financial-improvement claims

• 2024 amendments introduced near-total ban on gambling advertising in print and electronic media, including websites
• 2026 proposal for comprehensive ban on all direct and indirect gambling advertising, including social media and outdoor
• 2026 introduction of mandatory licensing regime for gambling affiliate/marketing operators by NRA

• Exact article numbers for advertising prohibitions in the Gambling Act (post-2024 amendments)
• Exact statutory basis for ISP/domain blocking, if any, beyond NRA blacklist practice
• Precise URL path of NRA’s public gambling operator register
• Detailed provisions on criminal offences for illegal online gambling organisation
• Whether a specific Bulgarian rule treats loot boxes as gambling or consumer products.
• Whether sweepstakes/social casinos are expressly regulated, banned, or tolerated.
• Whether prediction markets are supervised as gambling, securities, or derivatives in Bulgaria.

1. cms.law/en/int/expert-guides/cms-expert-guide-to-gambling-laws-in-cee/bulgaria
2. cem.bg/files/1719521036_gambling_act.pdf
3. legal500.com/guides/chapter/bulgaria-gambling-law/
4. infoplay.info/en/2026-08-20/infoplay-analysis-bulgaria-reshapes-online-gambling-with-affiliate-licensing-payment-blocking-and-bgn-669-billion-in-bets/36944/new/
5. gamblingmaps.org/map/regulations/bulgaria
6. cms.law/en/bgr/legal-updates/gambling-advertising-in-bulgaria-navigating-the-prohibitions-and-regulatory-guidance
7. mondaq.com/sport/1478044/the-new-rules-of-the-game-navigating-the-near-total-ban-on-gambling-advertisement-in-bulgaria
8. cms.law/en/bgr/legal-updates/bulgaria-introduces-mandatory-licensing-for-affiliate-operators-promoting-gambling
9. somuchpoker.com/poker-guides/europe/bulgaria
10. riverodds.app/poker-in-bulgaria/
11. eupoker.com/bulgaria-poker-regulations/
12. igaming-times.com/countries/bulgaria
13. bulgaria-for-business.com/licensing/gambling/
14. softswiss.com/gambling-regulation-map/bulgaria/
15. casinodaddy.com/news/bulgaria-now-requires-a-gambling-affiliate-licence/
16. linkedin.com/posts/sela---south-east-legal-alliance_sela-selaalliance-gamblinglaw-activity-7491431046866190337-lopx

Researched 2026-09-21 from public sources and summarised by the Brandfense team. Not legal advice — confirm with the regulator or your counsel before acting.