Forecast to 2030: Bulgaria will become the leader of iGaming in the region

By 2030, Bulgaria could become the leading iGaming hub in Southeast Europe, ahead of Romania, Serbia and Greece in terms of gross gaming income (GGR), technological base and quality of regulation. The country has already created a sustainable ecosystem: licensed online operators exporting gaming products, international partnerships and a powerful IT sector capable of serving world-class platforms and studios.

1) Structural advantages of Bulgaria

Regulation and transparency. The Bulgarian tax and licensing system has become one of the most understandable in the region: 15-20% GGR, mandatory reporting and reliable control.

World-class local providers. EGT and Amusnet Interactive export games to dozens of countries, increasing the recognition of the Bulgarian brand in the global market.

Geography and tourism. Black Sea resorts (Varna, Burgas, Sunny Beach) provide a stream of offline casino customers, and online platforms use seasonal demand.

IT professionals and infrastructure. Bulgaria is known as the "Eastern European Silicon Valley": strong cadres, sustainable internet, data centers, qualified DevOps and BI teams.

2) Digital growth and omnichannel

Online gambling is growing by 10-15% annually, shifting focus from offline games to mobile applications and live games.

The Omni-channel model combines online and offline through a single wallet, missions and tournaments, enhancing player retention.

Cross-promo with tourism. Casino + resort packages, bonuses for visiting offline locations and online broadcasts of live tournaments make Bulgaria an example of industry integration.

3) Content export and international influence

Bulgarian developers are increasingly working in the markets of Europe, Asia and Latin America.

EGT Digital and Amusnet Interactive promote Bulgarian content at international exhibitions ICE, SiGMA, SBC.

The Made in Bulgaria cluster is being formed, which unites studios, platforms, PSPs and compliance providers under a common brand of trust.

Local games with national symbols (roses, Rila, Trakian mythology) become part of cultural exports.

4) Payment technology and fintech

EasyPay, ePay. bg, Paysera, Revolut and crypto integrations make the market flexible and modern.

Fast payouts, friction-free KYC and full compatibility with EU AML directives increase trust.

By 2030, instant payment infrastructure (instant SEPA and stablecoins) will appear, accelerating conclusions to seconds.

5) Compliance and Responsible Gaming

After the reforms of 2020-2024, Bulgaria built an effective system of responsible play (RG): limits, self-exclusion, behavioral analysis.

In 2025-2030 AI modules will appear that predict the risky behavior of players and offer "soft pauses."

The strengthening of compliance and automation of reporting create the basis for the export of licenses and the recognition of the Bulgarian model by other jurisdictions.

6) Partnerships and international investments

Brands with MGA and Curacao 2 licenses enter the country. 0 - through local partnerships and joint studios.

Bulgaria is becoming an outsourcing hub for iGaming, with support, BI, marketing and risk analytics teams for Western operators.

Foreign investment in IT and infrastructure is expected to grow - especially in Varna, Sofia and Plovdiv.

7) Socioeconomic impact

Jobs: iGaming provides 10-12 thousand direct jobs and up to 40 thousand indirect (development, tourism, media).

Budget revenues: taxes and licenses form a stable share of the revenues of regional administrations.

Image of the country: Bulgaria is becoming known not only as a beach resort, but also as a technological center for gambling innovation.

8) Scenario 2030: Bulgaria as Leader of the Balkans

Indicator	2024	2030 (forecast)
GGR (online)	€1.5-2 billion	€3.5-4 billion
Share of online in total turnover	45%	>70%
Exporting games and technology	100 + countries	150 + countries
Number of licensed operators	35	60+
Industrial employment	12,000 people. 25,000 + people

9) Key success factors

1. Transparent regulation and digital reporting.

2. Strong local brands - EGT, Amusnet, Palms Bet, Efbet.

3. Fast payment infrastructure and fintech innovation.

4. Localized content with national identity.

5. Responsible advertising and RG control.

6. Omnichannel synthesis of offline and online gambling.

7. Inflow of foreign investment and partnerships.

10) Forecast for the decade

By 2030 Bulgaria:

will become a regional licensing and hosting center for iGaming companies;
exports technology and games to more than 150 countries;
will receive the status of a regulatory benchmark for the Balkans;
will strengthen its position as a tourist and gaming hub in Europe;
will create a sustainable ecosystem that unites IT, tourism, gambling and financial technology.

Bulgaria is moving towards leading iGaming in the region due to a combination of three factors:

smart regulation, local technology and content, flexible economy and tourism.

By 2030, the country will become an example of an integrated model of the entertainment industry, where excitement, technology and culture are combined into a single export brand. Bulgaria will not just catch up with its neighbors - it will set standards for the entire Balkan region.