Bulgaria's Gambling Crisis: €1 Billion Lost Annually

Bulgaria is facing a significant gambling crisis, with citizens losing nearly €1 billion annually to online casinos and sportsbooks. According to official figures, the gambling turnover has reached €34.27 billion in 2025, marking a substantial increase from the €22.51 billion generated in 2024 by licensed companies.

Despite regulatory efforts, underage gambling remains a concern. A local report by the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) suggests that underage individuals are continuing to access gambling products, although not licensed ones. Additionally, the country’s registry of self-excluded gamblers has been expanding proportionately, with as many as 54,000 Bulgarians registering since the list was launched in 2025.

Amendments passed in 2024 have allowed people who have self-excluded to submit a request just 30 days after being placed on that list; previously, the waiting period was two years. However, Bozhidar Bozhanov, an MP from the Democratic Bulgaria party, has called gambling in Bulgaria an 'epidemic' and has accused the state of not taking sufficient measures to enforce rules, including the most recently-introduced ones. Democratic Bulgaria has called for a complete ban on gambling advertising, as well as addressing existing loopholes that allow gambling advertisers to continue pushing their messages without any response from regulators.