Bulgaria Online Casino

Bulgaria is one of the first countries in Eastern Europe to legalize and regulate gambling in detail, including online gambling.

Today it is a mature and competitive market with a clear license, a transparent tax system and active government control.

The Bulgarian gambling sector has become a model for neighboring countries due to a combination of strict regulation and openness to international operators.

Legislative framework

The main law governing gambling in the country:

The Gambling (Law for Hazarta) Act, passed in 2012 and amended in 2020.

Until 2020, licenses were issued by the State Commission for Gambling (DKH), but after the corruption scandal, supervision was transferred to the National Revenue Agency (NAP - National Agency for Come).

The main provisions of the law:

gambling is allowed with a state license;
regulation covers all forms - offline and online;
foreign companies can obtain licenses on an equal basis with Bulgarian ones;
anonymous and nelіtsenzirovannyye sites are prohibited;
there is a register of operators and sites available on the NAP website.

Control over the activities of operators is carried out by the NAP, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Finance of Bulgaria.

Licensing

To operate in the Bulgarian market, the operator is required to obtain a NAP license.

The application can be submitted online through the national portal, while the requirements are the same for national and international companies.

The main conditions for obtaining a license:

registration of the company in Bulgaria or the EU;
authorized capital from BGN 1.5 million (~ €750,000);
lack of debt and litigation;
certified gaming software and RNG;
provision of a guarantee of solvency;
annual financial and reporting review.

License term: 5 years (renewable).

Largest licensed brands:

Efbet, Winbet, Palms Bet, Sesame. bg, Bwin. bg, Betano. bg, PokerStars. bg, 888. bg, Bet365. bg, Alphawin.

Taxation

Bulgaria has one of the most profitable and stable tax systems in Europe for gambling.

For operators:

gross income tax (GGR) - 20%;
corporate tax - 10%;
annual license - from BGN 100,000 to 300,000, depending on the type of games;
equipment certification fee - BGN 5,000-15,000.

For players:

winnings received at licensed casinos are not taxable;
taxation applies only to illegal sources of income.

Taxes are administered and controlled by NAP, which provides transparency and predictability for businesses.

Online gambling

Online gambling in Bulgaria has been fully legalized since 2012.

Players only have access to licensed sites, and all other domains are blocked at the ISP level.

Popular online casinos:

Efbet. bg is the country's first licensed casino;
Winbet. bg is the largest national operator;
Palms Bet, Betano, Bwin, PokerStars, Bet365, 888Casino, Alphawin.

Land-based casinos

Bulgaria is known as a tourist center for casino vacations.

Dozens of gambling establishments operate legally here, most of which are located in Sofia, Varna, Plovdiv and resort areas - Sunny Beach, Bansko, St. Vlas.

The largest casinos in the country:

International Casino Varna - on the Black Sea coast;
Casino Sofia Marriott - elite casino in the capital;
Princess Casino Sofia is one of the oldest and most prestigious establishments;
Palms Royale Casino Plovdiv;
Monte Casino Sunny Beach.

Foreign tourists make up more than 50% of offline customers.

Payment methods

The main currency is Bulgarian lev (BGN).

Online operators offer a wide range of payment instruments:

Visa, MasterCard, Maestro;
Skrill, Neteller, ecoPayz, PaySafeCard;
Apple Pay, Google Pay;
bank transfers through DSK Bank, UniCredit Bulbank, Postbank, Raiffeisenbank;
cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, USDT, Ethereum) - allowed through licensed providers and subject to AML.

Since 2023, the eID Bulgaria system has been operating, which allows you to instantly confirm your identity upon registration.

Responsible play

Bulgaria strictly complies with European Responsible Gaming standards.

Operators are required to implement player protection programs approved by the NAP.

Measures include:

age limit (18 +);
Dependency risk notifications
limits on deposits and losses;
possibility of self-exclusion;
blocking access for players from the state register "Register for vulnerable persons."

Additionally, the National Center for Addiction Treatment (NCTZ) works, offering advice and assistance to players.

Economic importance

Gambling is an important sector of the Bulgarian economy.

According to the Ministry of Finance (2024):

total market turnover - BGN 4 billion (€2 billion);
tax revenues - BGN 500 million (€255 million);
more than 8,000 jobs in casino, IT and marketing;
annual growth of the online segment - 12-15%.

The industry actively supports sports: operators Efbet, Winbet and Palms Bet are general sponsors of football clubs and national teams of Bulgaria.

Challenges and challenges

Despite the maturity of the market, topical issues remain:

the need to improve oversight of offshore sites;
combating illegal crypto betting;
raising the standards of Responsible Gaming;
regulation of gambling advertising.

In 2024, NAP announced the launch of a new system "Hazard Monitor," which will track transactions and advertising activity of operators in real time.

Development prospects

Bulgaria continues to strengthen its position as the regional leader of gambling in Southeast Europe.

Key trends for the coming years:

Implementation of digital licenses and automatic renewals for trusted operators
support for cryptocurrencies and fintech payments;
development of live games and mobile platforms;
improving player protection standards and Responsible Gaming.

Thanks to modern regulation, a stable economy and openness to investors, Bulgaria is considered one of the safest and most promising jurisdictions in Europe for online casinos and gambling, ensuring a balance between market freedom and responsible control.