Bulgaria Gambling Affiliate Licence: 2026 Requirements
A Bulgaria gambling affiliate licence is now mandatory for anyone earning performance-based commission from promoting online gambling operators in Bulgaria. The National Revenue Agency (NRA) introduced the regime through amendments to the Gambling Act, and it applies from 1 September 2026. If you already work with a Bulgarian-facing operator, you need to act before the application deadline. This guide covers who is captured, the fees involved, and what changes for affiliates and operators.
Key facts
- Regulator: National Revenue Agency (NRA)
- In force: 1 September 2026; active affiliates apply by 15 August 2026
- Annual licence maintenance fee: approximately EUR 6,000
- Operators withhold and remit 10% of the affiliate’s performance-based remuneration to the NRA
- Scope: licensed affiliates may promote licensed operators only; a Bulgarian licence does not grant market access in other countries
The change sits alongside Bulgaria’s existing operator framework. If you hold or are applying for a Bulgaria gaming licence as an operator, the affiliate rules affect who you can pay commission to from 1 September 2026 onward.
Who needs a Bulgaria gambling affiliate licence
You need a Bulgaria gambling affiliate licence if your remuneration is tied to performance indicators for a gambling operator active in the Bulgarian market. The NRA defines performance-based remuneration broadly: commission linked to players referred, deposits made, bets placed, or gambling revenue generated.
In practice, this covers CPA affiliates, revenue-share partners, and hybrid deals that combine both models. Flat-fee media buys with no performance link fall outside the definition as published. If your contract includes any performance component, treat it as in scope and apply before the deadline.
Once licensed, you may only promote operators that hold a valid Bulgarian licence. You may not promote an unlicensed operator, regardless of where it is based. Affiliate legality is now tied directly to operator legality.
Key dates: 15 August and 1 September 2026
Two dates matter for anyone pursuing a Bulgaria gambling affiliate licence. First, 15 August 2026 is the deadline for affiliates already active in the Bulgarian market to submit their licence application. Missing it creates a real risk of an operating gap once enforcement starts.
Second, 1 September 2026 is when the regime takes legal effect. From that date, unlicensed affiliates promoting Bulgarian-facing operators are outside the rules, and the NRA gains enforcement powers over them. Operators must have verified their affiliate partners’ status before that date.
New entrants are not bound by the 15 August deadline, since it applies to continuity for affiliates already active. Even so, you cannot legally earn performance-based commission from a Bulgarian-facing operator after 1 September 2026 without a licence in hand.
Bulgaria gambling affiliate licence fees and the 10% remittance
The confirmed cost of a Bulgaria gambling affiliate licence has two parts. You pay an annual licence maintenance fee of approximately EUR 6,000. Separately, the operator you work with withholds and remits an additional 10% of your performance-based remuneration directly to the NRA.
That 10% is not a cost you invoice yourself. The operator deducts it at source before you receive your payout, similar in mechanism to a withholding tax.
| Charge | Figure (2026) |
|---|---|
| Annual licence maintenance fee | Approximately EUR 6,000 |
| Operator remittance to the NRA | 10% of the affiliate’s performance-based remuneration |
| Upfront application fee | Not confirmed by the NRA |
| Advertising breaches | Dedicated sanctions under the Gambling Act |
The NRA has not published whether a separate upfront application fee applies on top of the annual EUR 6,000 charge. Budget for the annual fee as a baseline and confirm the full cost structure with the NRA before you submit. For the tax treatment that sits alongside these fees, see our guide on Bulgaria gambling affiliate tax.
How the 10% remittance applies to CPA, revenue share and hybrid deals
A pure CPA deal pays a fixed amount per qualifying player, so the 10% remittance is straightforward: it applies to that fixed sum. A pure revenue-share deal pays a percentage of the operator’s gross gaming revenue from your referred players, and the 10% applies to whatever share you receive.
Hybrid deals are less clear. Many affiliate contracts in this market combine a flat CPA element with an ongoing revenue-share tail. The NRA has not published how the 10% applies when both elements exist in the same agreement, and it has not confirmed treatment for months when a referred player’s net revenue turns negative.
Negative revenue months happen when payouts to players exceed what the operator collects from them. Since revenue-share affiliates typically receive nothing in those months, it is unclear whether the 10% has any base to apply against. Confirm treatment directly with the NRA rather than assume a calculation method.
Application requirements and channel declaration
Applying for a Bulgaria gambling affiliate licence requires you to declare every channel you use to promote gambling operators: websites, mobile applications, social media accounts, and video streaming channels. Undeclared channels fall outside your licence’s cover.
Several administrative details remain open. The NRA has not confirmed its target review or processing window for an affiliate application, so applicants cannot yet plan around a fixed timeline. It has also not confirmed whether the licence is valid for one year or for a longer multi-year period, separate from the annual maintenance fee.
It is also unclear whether affiliate ultimate beneficial owners and directors face the same fit-and-proper checks operators go through. If your business runs through a network of sub-affiliates, the NRA has not confirmed whether one licence covers downstream publishers or whether each needs its own. Confirm these points with the NRA before building a compliance timeline around assumptions.
Advertising rules affiliates must follow
Affiliates fall under Bulgaria’s gambling advertising regime for the first time under this reform, following amendments passed by the National Assembly of Bulgaria. Before now, restrictions applied to operators directly. This reform closes that gap.
Licensed affiliates must comply with the same advertising restrictions that apply to operators, and the Gambling Act sets out dedicated sanctions for affiliate breaches. This covers how gambling products are presented, what claims can be made, and where promotional content can run. See our guide to gambling advertising restrictions for the full detail.
If your promotional activity spans multiple channels, review each one against the advertising rules individually. A breach on one declared channel can trigger sanctions even if your other channels are compliant.
What the new regime means for operators
Operators carry real obligations under this regime too. You must verify that every affiliate partner holds a valid Bulgaria gambling affiliate licence before paying performance-based commission after 1 September 2026. Paying an unlicensed affiliate exposes your own licence to risk.
You are also responsible for withholding and remitting the 10% affiliate remittance to the NRA on every qualifying payout. This is an operational change to your payment processing, since you must calculate and deduct it correctly at the point of payment.
The NRA can now block websites, mobile apps, and social media pages operated by unlicensed affiliates, so a blocked channel stops delivering traffic regardless of your own compliance standing. Whether the NRA will offer a real-time registry for operators to verify affiliate licences has not been confirmed, so build manual verification into your onboarding process until that changes. Our gaming licensing compliance service covers affiliate partner verification as part of ongoing compliance support.
What the licence does not cover
A Bulgaria gambling affiliate licence authorises you to promote licensed operators within the Bulgarian market. It does not extend to any other jurisdiction or grant market access outside Bulgaria; gambling remains a nationally regulated matter across the EU, as set out on the European Commission’s online gambling pages.
If you operate as a foreign-registered affiliate, the NRA has not confirmed whether you need a local Bulgarian entity or a local representative to hold the licence. Confirm your structure before applying rather than after.
The right approach depends on your commission model, channel mix, and whether you operate as an individual or a network. Book a consultation with our advisory team to work through your situation against the confirmed rules and the points still pending NRA clarification. General iGaming affiliate marketing practices elsewhere are not a safe guide to Bulgarian requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Who needs a Bulgaria gambling affiliate licence?
Anyone paid on a performance-based commission model for promoting gambling operators active in Bulgaria needs a licence. That includes commission linked to players referred, deposits made, bets placed, or gambling revenue generated. Flat-fee arrangements without a performance link are not captured.
When does the Bulgaria gambling affiliate licensing regime take effect?
The regime takes legal effect on 1 September 2026 under amendments to the Gambling Act. Affiliates already active in the Bulgarian market must submit their application by 15 August 2026 to avoid an operating gap. After 1 September, promoting a Bulgarian-facing operator without a licence is outside the rules.
How much does a Bulgaria gambling affiliate licence cost?
The confirmed annual licence maintenance fee is approximately EUR 6,000. The NRA has not yet confirmed whether a separate upfront application fee applies on top of that figure, so affiliates should confirm the full cost structure with the NRA directly before applying.
What is the 10% affiliate remittance in Bulgaria?
Operators must withhold and remit an amount equal to 10% of an affiliate’s performance-based remuneration to the NRA. This applies alongside the affiliate’s own annual licence fee. How it applies to hybrid CPA and revenue-share deals, or to negative-revenue periods, has not been published.
Do foreign affiliates need a Bulgarian licence?
Yes, if you earn performance-based commission from an operator active in the Bulgarian market, the requirement applies regardless of where you are based. The NRA has not confirmed whether foreign affiliates must set up a local entity or appoint a local representative. Confirm your structure before applying.
What happens to affiliates that promote unlicensed operators?
Licensed affiliates may only promote operators that hold a valid Bulgarian licence, so promoting an unlicensed operator is prohibited. The NRA has the power to block websites, mobile apps, and social media pages run by unlicensed affiliates. Operators are also expected to avoid working with affiliates promoting unlicensed competitors.
What must operators do under the new affiliate rules?
Operators must confirm that every affiliate partner holds a valid licence before paying performance-based commission from 1 September 2026. They must also withhold and remit the 10% affiliate remittance to the NRA on qualifying payouts. Failing to verify a partner’s status exposes the operator’s own licence to risk.
Does a Bulgaria gambling affiliate licence allow marketing in other countries?
No. The licence authorises promotion of licensed operators within the Bulgarian market only, and it does not grant market access or promotional rights in any other jurisdiction. Affiliates working across multiple markets need to check the separate licensing requirements of each country individually.
Plan your Bulgaria affiliate compliance
The 15 August 2026 deadline leaves a narrow window to get this right. Several details, including the application fee, review timeline, and hybrid-deal remittance calculation, are still pending NRA confirmation. Contact DD Consultus at contact@licencegaming.com or +356 99408536 to review your affiliate structure before the deadline passes. Our gaming licence acquisition service supports both operators and affiliates through the application process.