The Bulgaria gambling advertising ban restricts gambling promotion across television, radio, print, and digital media. In July 2026 the Ministry of Finance rejected calls to widen it into a near-total ban. The 2024 law stays in force, the proposed tax increase was turned down, and the online gambling tax holds at 25% of gross gaming revenue. This guide sets out what the Bulgaria gambling advertising ban covers and which 2026 proposals Bulgaria rejected. It also covers the rules that still apply to billboards and venues, plus what could change after the Finance Ministry’s review of the Gambling Act.
Key takeaways
- Regulator: National Revenue Agency (NRA), Bulgaria’s gambling authority
- Advertising ban in force since 2024: no gambling advertising on television, radio, print, or digital media
- July 2026: the Ministry of Finance rejected a proposed blanket advertising ban and a further tax rise
- Online gambling tax: 25% of gross gaming revenue, plus 10% corporate tax
- Scope: the ban governs promotion inside Bulgaria; a Bulgarian licence does not grant market access in other countries
What the Bulgaria gambling advertising ban covers
Bulgaria’s parliament passed the current advertising rules in April 2024, and they took effect the following month. The law prohibits gambling advertising on television, radio, print publications, and digital platforms. So a licensed operator cannot run the broadcast and online campaigns that most other regulated markets allow.
The ban applies to every operator that markets to players in Bulgaria, whether the brand is local or based abroad. It reaches paid promotion, sponsored placements, and digital advertising tied to the Bulgarian market. If you hold or plan a Bulgaria gaming licence, the advertising rules shape how you acquire and retain players from the first campaign onward.
The National Revenue Agency (NRA) supervises gambling in Bulgaria and enforces the conditions attached to operator licences. Because the restriction is written into national law rather than a regulator guideline, changes to it move through parliament. That process matters in 2026, since several proposals reached the National Assembly at once.
The 2026 proposals Bulgaria rejected
In July 2026 the National Assembly debated amendments that would have tightened the regime further. Opposition parties pushed for a near-total advertising ban alongside a sharp rise in operator fees and gambling tax. Members approved a small, niche tax measure but rejected the broader package.
The Ministry of Finance set out the reasoning behind the rejection. It argued that raising tax before curbing the unregulated market would move players from licensed operators to illegal ones. Bulgaria’s channelisation rate sits at around 60%, so roughly 40% of demand already runs outside the regulated market. For that reason, the government treated a further tax rise as a risk to the legal sector rather than a straight revenue gain.
The Ministry also said it prefers a full revision of the Gambling Act to isolated amendments. As a result, the wider advertising and fee changes were held back pending that review. The rejected measures do not change the rules that already apply, so the 2024 Bulgaria gambling advertising ban remains the operating baseline for now.
Current advertising rules for billboards and venues
The Bulgaria gambling advertising ban is wide, but it does leave narrow channels open. Outdoor and venue advertising survive under strict limits, and the rules set out exactly where and how a message may appear. The table below summarises what applies today.
These limits mean a billboard campaign needs a compliance check on location and warning space before it goes live. Venue signage also has a hard cap on size. In practice, operators plan Bulgarian promotion around what these few channels allow rather than around broadcast or digital reach.
What the Bulgaria gambling advertising ban does not cover
The Bulgaria gambling advertising ban is broad, but it does not reach everything an operator communicates. Factual product information and regulatory notices sit outside the promotional restriction. Age and identity checks, terms and conditions, and responsible gambling messaging remain permitted, provided they carry no promotional element.
The state-owned Bulgarian Sports Totalisator holds a narrow exception from the general ban. That exception is specific to the state operator and does not extend to private licensees. So a private brand cannot rely on it when planning a campaign.
The ban also does not grant reach beyond Bulgaria. A Bulgarian licence authorises activity in the Bulgarian market only, and it does not give EU-wide market access. An operator serving several countries holds a separate licence for each one, as the European Commission’s online gambling pages confirm. For how another EU state has taken a similar route, our coverage of the Italy gambling advertising ban sets out a comparable framework.
Pending changes to Bulgaria’s gambling rules
The rejected proposals are not the end of the story, because the Ministry of Finance has confirmed a comprehensive revision of the Gambling Act is underway. No completion date has been published, so operators cannot yet plan around a fixed reform timeline. Still, the direction of travel points to a single consolidated overhaul rather than piecemeal changes.
Two separate bills also sit in the legislative pipeline. A proposal to raise the gambling age from 18 to 21 has been pending since February 2026. A measure introducing mandatory loss limits has been pending since June 2025. Neither has a confirmed vote date, so both remain open questions for market planning.
The National Assembly is the body that will decide these measures, and its published records are the primary source for the current status. You can track progress on the National Assembly of Bulgaria site and confirm licensing conditions with the National Revenue Agency. Until the review concludes, the Bulgaria gambling advertising ban and the 25% tax rate stay in place.
The gambling tax picture for operators
The Bulgaria gambling advertising ban sits alongside a tax regime that changed earlier in 2026. Bulgaria raised the tax on gross gaming revenue from 20% to 25% for online gambling and several other verticals. On top of that sits the standard 10% corporate tax on profit. The table below sets out the main charges an operator budgets for.
| Charge | Figure (2026) |
|---|---|
| Tax on gross gaming revenue | 25% (raised from 20% in 2026) |
| Corporate tax | 10% on profit |
| Operator licence and fees | Set by the NRA; the proposed increase was rejected |
| Affiliate charge | Separate regime under the 2026 budget |
The rejected package would have pushed the operator burden higher, but the 25% rate is the figure that applies now. A separate charge on the promotion layer runs through the Bulgaria gambling affiliate tax, which adds a licence and levy for affiliates working with regulated operators. The higher headline rate does not remove the reasons many operators pick the jurisdiction, which we cover in our guide to why operators choose Bulgaria.
What operators and advertisers should do now
The framework is stable for now, but a full Gambling Act revision is coming. So the first task is to track the National Assembly and the NRA for the review outcome and any vote on the pending bills. After that, the work is practical.
Align every Bulgarian campaign with the Bulgaria gambling advertising ban before it runs. That means checking billboard distance from protected areas, reserving the 10% warning space, and keeping venue signage within the size cap. It also means treating factual product information and promotional messaging as two separate categories, since only the first stays permitted.
Operators that run affiliate programmes should confirm which partners fall inside the new affiliate regime. Clean records and a traceable structure make that easier. For the ongoing side of this work, our gaming licensing compliance support keeps campaigns and reporting aligned. Our gaming licence acquisition service manages the licensing process for operators entering the market.
Frequently asked questions
Is gambling advertising banned in Bulgaria?
Yes. A law in force since 2024 prohibits gambling advertising on television, radio, print, and digital media. The ban applies to every operator marketing to players in Bulgaria, and the National Revenue Agency supervises the regime. Narrow outdoor and venue channels remain open under strict conditions.
Is the Bulgaria gambling advertising ban a total ban?
No. The Bulgaria gambling advertising ban covers broadcast, print, and digital media, but it leaves limited billboard and venue advertising in place. Factual product information and responsible gambling messaging also sit outside the restriction. In July 2026 parliament rejected a proposal to widen the ban toward a near-total one.
What does Bulgaria’s 2024 gambling advertising law restrict?
The 2024 law bans gambling advertising across television, radio, print publications, and digital platforms. Billboards are allowed only outside a 300 metre zone around schools, universities, and playgrounds, with at least 10% of the space given to a risk warning. Venue signage is capped at 50 square metres or 20% of the facade.
Can operators still advertise on billboards in Bulgaria?
Billboard advertising remains possible, but under tight limits. The billboard must sit at least 300 metres from protected areas such as schools and playgrounds, and at least 10% of the space must carry a gambling risk warning. Each placement needs a compliance check before it runs.
Why did Bulgaria reject the stricter advertising restrictions in 2026?
The Ministry of Finance argued that tightening the regime and raising tax before curbing the unregulated market would push players toward illegal operators. Bulgaria’s channelisation rate sits at around 60%. The Ministry also said it prefers a full revision of the Gambling Act to isolated amendments.
What is the gambling tax rate in Bulgaria in 2026?
Bulgaria taxes gross gaming revenue at 25%, raised from 20% earlier in 2026, alongside a 10% corporate tax on profit. A proposed further increase was rejected in July 2026. Operators should confirm current licence fees with the National Revenue Agency before planning.
What gambling law changes are still pending in Bulgaria?
The Ministry of Finance is preparing a comprehensive revision of the Gambling Act, with no completion date confirmed. A bill to raise the gambling age from 18 to 21 has been pending since February 2026, and a mandatory loss limit measure has been pending since June 2025. Neither has a confirmed vote date.
Does a Bulgarian gambling licence allow advertising in other countries?
No. A Bulgarian licence relates to the Bulgarian market only and does not grant EU-wide market access. Each country sets its own advertising and licensing rules, so an operator active across several markets addresses each one separately. Book a consultation for a structure matched to your target countries.
Plan your Bulgaria strategy with current rules
The Bulgaria gambling advertising ban from 2024 stays in force, and the 2026 proposal to widen it was rejected. The online gambling tax holds at 25% of gross gaming revenue. A full revision of the Gambling Act is underway. So confirm the current advertising and tax position with the National Revenue Agency before you commit to a campaign or a licence. For a plan matched to your product and target markets, speak with the DD Consultus advisory team at contact@licencegaming.com or +356 99408536.