Three proposals to amend Bulgaria’s Gambling Act are shaping the debate on gambling advertising. Bill No. 52-654-01-128 was introduced on September 4, 2026, by Members of Parliament (MPs)from the parliamentary group of We Continue the Change, followed by Bill No. 52-654-01-130 on September 9, 2026, introduced by MPs from the parliamentary group of Democratic Bulgaria. A third proposal was published by the Government for public consultation on September 23, 2026.
All three seek to reduce public exposure to gambling advertising and to protect minors and other vulnerable groups. They differ, however, in scope and regulatory design.
This Bill offers the most restrictive model and would ban both direct and indirect advertising of gambling games, gambling operators and betting outlets, including promotion of planned betting outlets.
The prohibition is intended to extend across traditional and digital media, websites and social media, outdoor advertising and public transport. It would also cover bonuses, free bets, trade marks, logos, product placement and media sponsorship. The Bill further targets intermediaries and advertising agencies used to circumvent the restrictions.The Bill specifies a narrow list of exceptions, including draws of the Bulgarian Sports Totalisator, limited signage at licensed venues, small branding on sportswear intended for adults, and information on an operator’s official website. The bill would also give the National Revenue Agency new powers to restrict the services of online advertising providers that systematically fail to comply with its orders.
Bill No. 52-654-01-130follows a different approach. It also tightens the restrictions, but places the digital environment and effective enforcement at the centre of the proposed reform.
The bill would prohibit all forms of outdoor advertising. It expressly covers websites, online news services, mobile applications, online platforms, text messages, and email. The National Revenue Agency would be required to maintain an online reporting mechanism, monitor unlawful advertising, and publish monthly information on identified violations and imposed sanctions.
The proposal also introduces measures against access to unlicensed online gambling. These measures target very large online search engines, crypto-asset service providers, and the funding of online gambling accounts before identity verification.
The bill takes a more practical approach. Its focus is on restricting the channels through which gambling advertising is distributed.
The Government proposes a general prohibition on advertising gambling games, operators, related trade marks and distinctive signs, regardless of the form or channel of communication. The Bill would preserve limited exceptions for:
Sponsorship would remain possible, but on strict terms. A sponsor’s name or trade mark could not be digitally inserted into television or online broadcasts of sporting events. The bill would also discontinue the affiliate-operator regime, as affiliate activity is directly linked to gambling promotion.
The normative future of the three Bills would largely depend on whether they are brought together to the legislature.
The Government’s bill is undergoing public consultation on the Public Consultation Portal. Stakeholders may submit comments until October 23, 2026. Once that period closes, the bill will be considered by the Council of Ministers and submitted to Parliament. It may be revised to reflect comments and proposals received during the consultation.
The opposition bills are already in the parliamentary phase. They have been referred to the Committee on Budget and Finance, the Committee on Youth and Sports and the Committee on Culture and Media. Under the Rules of Organization and Procedure of the National Assembly, bills addressing the same subject matter are considered together at first reading. It is therefore likely that the governing majority will wait for the Government’s bill to be introduced before beginning substantive consideration of the proposed amendments to the Gambling Act.
Given the public-consultation timetable and parliamentary practice, the debate on these bills is unlikely to begin before late October or early November 2026.