By the end of 2023, the nationalist party Revival ("Vazrazhdane") in Bulgaria suggested changes to the nation's Gambling Law.In an effort to combat what the party saw as...
The Bulgarian government to combat illegal gambling
Rumen Petkov is pushing for strict legislation in Bulgaria’s ruling coalition regarding illegal gambling practices.
According to the National Revenue Agency (NRA), a total of 46 online gambling licenses were issued in Bulgaria, opening the gates to 25 legal operators. However, more than 5000 illegal gambling sites are still operating in the country alongside legal ones and put the users at risk of losing money and facing issues of mental health.
According to Petkov, illegal gambling affects not only the economy but the whole society. Younger age groups and unregistered players become the most vulnerable to such sites as they fail to check age and responsible gambling.
The issue has become difficult to tackle because there is no unified regulation across Europe. Petkov emphasized the fact that the EU does not even have a central list of banned gambling websites, which national authorities might use to trace and close illegal sites.
To combat this, the Bulgarian government is preparing for tougher regulation, tighter monitoring of online gambling, and publicity campaigns on the risks of unregulated gambling, especially targeting the youth. For Petkov, with more polished actions across Europe, Bulgaria can eliminate these illegal gambling practices once and for all.
FAQs
Is gambling legal in Bulgaria?
Gambling in Bulgaria is legal.
What is the legal gambling age in Bulgaria?
The legal gambling age in Bulgaria is 18.
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