Bulgaria Pushes for Unified EU Gambling Registry

How can Europe effectively combat illegal online gambling? Bulgaria believes the solution lies in a unified European gambling registry. Rumen Petkov, a senior figure in Bulgaria’s new coalition government, has called for an EU-wide initiative to help national regulators share intelligence and coordinate enforcement against unlicensed operators. With thousands of illegal gambling websites active in Bulgaria alone, authorities fear serious financial and social consequences. As Bulgaria tightens restrictions on advertising for legal operators, illegal platforms continue to dominate the market, raising urgent concerns about player protection and lost tax revenue.

Bulgaria Calls for Unified European Gambling Registry to Tackle Illegal Online Operators

Key Points:

1. Bulgaria Urges the EU to Create a Centralized Gambling Registry

   • Former Interior Minister Rumen Petkov calls for an EU-wide registry to combat illegal online gambling operators.
   • The initiative aims to improve regulatory collaboration between European gambling authorities.

2. Illegal Online Gambling Sites Outnumber Licensed Operators

   • Bulgaria has 25 licensed operators with 46 legal gambling websites.
   • In contrast, authorities have identified over 5,000 illegal online gambling sites targeting Bulgarian players.

3. Regulatory Measures and Advertising Bans Impact Market Dynamics

   • In 2023, Bulgaria introduced strict gambling ad restrictions, banning commercials on TV, radio, print, and online.
   • Regulators believe these restrictions may have inadvertently driven more players toward illegal operators.

Bulgaria Calls for Unified EU Strategy Against Illegal Gambling

The Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), one of the three parties in Bulgaria’s newly formed coalition government, has made combating illegal online gambling a top priority. At a recent press conference, former Interior Minister Rumen Petkov urged the European Union (EU) to establish a centralized gambling registry, enabling regulators across member states to share intelligence and enforce actions against illegal operators more effectively.

Petkov stated:
“Europe has seen illegal online gambling dominate over legal alternatives in recent years. This leads to two frightening outcomes—severe financial and social harm for individuals and a stream of uncontrolled funds that can fuel organized crime.”

Illegal Gambling Sites Outnumber Legal Operators

According to Bulgaria’s National Revenue Agency (NRA), the country currently has:

• 25 licensed gambling providers operating 46 legal online casino and sportsbook sites.
• Over 5,000 identified illegal iGaming sites targeting Bulgarian players.
• A 147% increase in payouts from regulated operators, with BGN 5.79bn (€2.96bn) in winnings exceeding BGN 5,000 paid in 2023.

These statistics highlight the scale of illegal gambling activity and the urgent need for stronger enforcement measures.

Gambling Advertising Ban: A Double-Edged Sword?

Bulgaria introduced strict gambling advertising regulations in May 2023, banning:

• TV, radio, print, and online gambling advertisements.
• Promotional campaigns outside designated areas (except for billboards more than 100 meters from schools and branding on casino buildings).

The move, designed to curb problem gambling, may have had unintended consequences.

Petkov warned:
“Following the state’s restrictions on licensed operators’ advertising, we’ve practically seen illegal online gambling double.”

Regulators Enhance Enforcement Efforts

To combat illegal gambling, the NRA has expanded its enforcement measures, including:

• Adding 52 more unlicensed gambling sites to its national blacklist.
• Blocking offshore operators using .am (Armenia) and .kz (Kazakhstan) domains.
• Partnering with law enforcement to disrupt unauthorized betting platforms.

NRA Director General Rumen Spetsov confirmed that regulators are leveraging advanced technology to monitor and block illicit gambling sites more efficiently.

Spetsov stated:
“We are improving our detection capabilities and working closely with law enforcement to disrupt the activities of unlicensed operators.”

The Case for an EU-Wide Gambling Registry

Petkov emphasized that Bulgaria is not alone in facing these challenges. Many European countries struggle to control illegal gambling, making cross-border regulatory cooperation essential.

A unified EU gambling registry would:

• Enable regulators to share intelligence on illegal operators.
• Create a central database of blacklisted gambling sites.
• Strengthen enforcement against unlicensed platforms operating across multiple jurisdictions.

“Europe’s lack of commitment to tackling illegal gambling is frightening,” Petkov stressed.

What’s Next for Bulgaria’s Gambling Regulations?

The BSP has already:

1. Raised concerns with Bulgaria’s Ministry of Interior and Deputy Prime Minister.
2. Proposed discussions with industry associations to develop responsible gambling initiatives.
3. Called for nationwide educational campaigns to inform players about the risks of illegal gambling.

With illegal gambling activity surging, Bulgaria’s new government is likely to push for stricter enforcement measures and stronger EU collaboration in the coming months.

Bulgaria Pushes for Unified EU Action on Gambling Regulation

Bulgaria’s call for a centralized European gambling registry highlights the growing challenges of illegal online gambling. With thousands of unlicensed operators targeting players, national regulators face an uphill battle in enforcement.

As Bulgaria strengthens its domestic gambling laws, the government believes that EU-wide cooperation is the next logical step. The question remains: Will European regulators unite to combat illegal gambling, or will fragmented policies continue to allow black-market operators to thrive?