Bulgaria's Council of Ministers has approved a draft Gambling Act amendment that would impose a near-total ban on gambling advertising and seek to end the activities of licensed affiliate operators. The bill was submitted to the National Assembly on 11 November and remains a proposal, not an enacted law.
Commercial impact
The draft would prohibit promotion of gambling games, organisers and related brands across advertising channels, with narrow exceptions for certain sponsorships and public-interest projects. It also proposes higher licence fees, increased taxes on land-based gaming and a minimum monthly state fee of €100,000 for online betting operators from 2028. Foreign online operators would need a local business establishment, while payment providers would face a new contribution on transaction remuneration above 1.5% of transaction value.
The affiliate provision is especially significant because Bulgaria introduced a performance-based affiliate licensing route in August 2026. The new bill would reverse that policy direction. Parliamentary committees and lawmakers must still examine the proposal, so affiliates and operators should distinguish the draft from current obligations.