Bulgaria Reviews Online Gambling Practices

Bulgaria Reviews Online Gambling Practices

Bulgaria is currently reviewing a set of regulatory changes aimed at reshaping how online gambling is offered and managed across the country. A proposal, introduced jointly by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Healthcare, outlines new limits on session time and daily losses, differentiated by age group, and tied to national income indicators. The draft has been made public and will remain open to comment until early July, inviting industry feedback and broader public discussion.

The core idea behind the proposal is to align gambling activity with structured behavioral thresholds and financial boundaries. The suggested rules would introduce mandatory limits on how long users can remain logged into online gambling platforms and how much they can lose in 24 hours. Age would become a decisive factor, as younger users would face stricter restrictions compared to those over 24.

According to the draft, individuals aged 24 and above would be limited to four hours of account activity at a time, while those under 24 would be capped at two hours. These time limits would begin from the moment a user logs into their account, regardless of whether they are actively participating in games or browsing. Once the allowed time is reached, operators would be required to log users out automatically and issue a warning message.

Users would be permitted to request extensions, but such requests would not be granted immediately. A 24-hour waiting period would apply before the operator could decide whether to allow additional time. By contrast, any request by the user to shorten their own time limit would have to be honored immediately.

After being logged out due to reaching a time limit, users must observe a mandatory 15-minute break before being allowed to log in again. During this interval, operators would be obligated to present safer gambling messages and details about Bulgaria's national self-exclusion register. The register itself has recently undergone a revision, with the minimum exclusion period extended from 30 days to one year.

Tournament events would be treated as exceptions. If a user reaches their limit during a scheduled tournament, they would be allowed to complete participation. However, once the tournament ends, the usual log-out protocol and cooling-off measures would resume.

Alongside the session restrictions, the proposal introduces a requirement for users to set a personal daily loss limit, determined according to the national average private sector salary over the past year. This figure is defined annually by the National Statistics Office. For players over the age of 24, the loss cap would be equivalent to no more than ten months of the average salary. For users under 24, the permitted loss would be reduced to five months' worth of the same benchmark.

Operators would be required to display the precise monetary values associated with these thresholds on their platforms, ensuring clarity for all users. When a player reaches their loss limit, they would be automatically added to the national exclusion register for seven days, without the option to override or delay that action.

Users would still be allowed to adjust their loss limits, but any increase would take effect 24 hours later. Decreases, however, would be implemented immediately. Operators would also need to notify users as they approach their daily cap, with automatic alerts triggered at key thresholds, such as halfway and near completion of their chosen limit.

These proposed changes reflect a deliberate attempt by Bulgarian authorities to rebalance user engagement with state oversight. The new approach emphasizes accountability, clearer boundaries, and the integration of automated interventions to enhance overall effectiveness. While the proposals are still in the consultation stage, the scope of change signals a potentially significant adjustment to the country's digital gambling framework.

The policy shift arrives at a time when Bulgaria is preparing for entry into the Eurozone. Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Zafirov recently linked the country's monetary transition to broader institutional tightening, particularly around areas involving financial transparency and regulatory alignment. Speaking to industry stakeholders at the National Information Centre, Zafirov stated that Bulgaria's projected adoption of the euro, expected in 2026, would coincide with increased scrutiny of unregulated sectors, including the gambling industry.

The upcoming transition is not Bulgaria's first major integration into European systems. Since joining the European Union in 2007 and the Schengen zone earlier this year, the country has gradually adjusted its legal and financial structures to meet cross-border standards. The draft gambling reforms appear to follow the same trajectory, aiming to reinforce trust in digital markets while reducing exposure to unregulated activities.