Bulgaria’s delayed 2026 Budget is headed to the National Assembly for a final approval, with a new rule for gambling affiliates on the cards.
Until this April, the Eastern European country had a caretaker government in place, which did not have the powers to approve a national budget.
This changed on 19 April, when ex-President Rumen Radev swept the majority of votes in the snap election, his party subsequently coming to power.
Radev’s cabinet has now finalised the Budget for 2026, which was approved by Ministers and is now heading to the National Assembly for a final vote.
The budget comes with a deficit of 5.7%, or around €7.2bn (£6.16bn) – with €49.5bn of planned income and €56.8bn in costs. To pad out national finances, policymakers are looking to introduce a licensing regime for gambling affiliates working with regulated operators.
In addition, affiliates are also facing a new two-pronged levy on the commission they receive from the sector “to increase tax revenues and prevent tax evasion”.
The two components are an annual €6,000 tax, and a variable 10% tax on all commission affiliates receive from measurable activities related to the promotion and popularisation of gambling.
Tax income from gambling is expected to increase by €100m annually.
Gambling advertising debate comes to a boiling point
Gambling marketing has become a divisive topic in Bulgaria over the last few weeks. Critics accused public broadcaster Bulgarian National Television (BNT) of airing gambling advertisements during its live broadcasts of FIFA World Cup games.
However, the media has responded that it is closely abiding to gambling regulations and denied any wrongdoing. The adverts shown, it added, are for business prospects that betting companies are offering to potential franchisers.
Under current legislation, all adverts that incentivise or promote gambling to customers are banned across radio, TV and in certain public areas – restrictions signed into law in 2024 by Radev himself.
Therefore, BNT has remained adamant that no laws have been breached.
“Within the framework of the World Cup, BNT also broadcasts clips of the Bulgarian Football Union – EfBet League [and] Mr Bit Second League. It also broadcasts Betano in its capacity as an official sponsor of the World Cup, a contractual partner of FIFA. There is no call for gambling in them!
“Gambling organisers licensed under the Gambling Act are entitled to sponsor events supporting sports, culture, health care, education and social work, subject to the limitations of the law,” the broadcaster added.
In light of the controversy, children-focused coalition the National Children’s Network urged the Speaker of the National Assembly and chairs of parliamentary groups to respond to the coalition’s calls for additional gambling advertising restrictions.
These include the ban of all types of product placements and the prohibition of the inclusion of gambling trademarks in the name of sports competitions and events.
“Sports inspire. It teaches perseverance, discipline, respect for the opponent and teamwork. Gambling has no place in this message to children,” the Network wrote in its open letter.
New regulatory boss could be linked to gambling
On the regulatory front, the National Revenue Agency (NRA) – the body responsible for gambling regulation – parted ways with its Director of Gambling Policy, Alexander Popov, on 18 June.
The search for Popov’s replacement has also been mired in controversy.
Vladislav Panev, MP from the ‘Democratic Bulgaria’ party, has alleged that the person who’s being prepped to take Popov’s place is Ginka Panaretova – a lawyer who has previously worked for Bulgarian gambling firm Inbet.
Panaretova’s involvement with Inbet was later confirmed by media outlet Mediapool, which cited two independent sources.
On requests for a comment, the NRA responded: “The main emphasis in the work of the National Revenue Agency is the high collection of taxes, insurance and public obligations, the fight against corruption and the shadow economy.
“The Executive Director of the NRA has the opportunity to choose the team with which to achieve the goals set for the Agency by the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria. At the moment, there are no changes in the management team in the National Revenue Agency. If there are such changes, the public will be informed in a timely manner.”
A Bulgarian bribed Romanian gambling officials
Lastly, there’s also a Bulgarian link in a recent gambling story making the news in neighbouring Romania.
The National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) conducted an investigation in June that resulted in the arrest of a Bulgarian national over bribery allegations of officials from Romania’s National Gambling Authority (ONJN).
Local news outlet HotNews.ro reported that a set of Bucharest judges approved an order to bring two individuals into custody for a period of 30 days.
One of them is allegedly the aforementioned Bulgarian citizen. The other – Odeta Kristanela Nestor, the former President of the ONJN between 2013-2017, and currently the Director of Romanian industry trade body Association of Remote Gambling Operators (AOJND).
Prosecutors claim that Nestor facilitated a €100,000 bribe to an ONJN official on 7 April, 2026, delivered by the Bulgarian citizen on behalf of an unnamed gambling firm to cover money laundering violations.
Romanian media suggest that the firm could be a Bulgarian operator.
