Bulgarian lawmakers reject proposal to nationalise gambling

Critics said a state monopoly would reduce annual tax revenue and drive players to the black market.

Bulgaria.- The Bulgarian National Assembly has decisively rejected a proposal to put all gambling under state control. The bill had been proposed Mech party MP Hristo Rastashki and was supported by the far-right Vazrazhdane. It received only 58 votes in favour, 14 against and 96 abstentions.

Supporters of the the failed measure described gambling as a social scourge that harmed vulnerable players and that state operation would increase safeguards and improve regulation. They signalled shortcomings in enforcement of existing restrictions on advertising and signage.

However, opponents said such a move would damage the gambling tourism sector, which attracts visitors from countries such as Israel and Iran, and warned that a state monopoly could reduce annual tax revenue by €200m while also driving players to illegal sites.

The debate came shortly after members of Bulgaria’s ruling majority presented rival proposed legislative amendments that would pave the way for the privatisation of Bulgaria’s state lottery and sports betting operation. That proposal, submitted to the chairs of the Budget and Finance Committee and the National Assembly last week, seeks to establish a long-term concession for the Bulgarian Sports Totalizator (BST).

The two disparate proposals show there is still wildly diverging opinions among lawmakers about how gambling in Bulgaria should be organised and overseen. Supporters of the coalition majority’s plan argue that the BST, despite holding a monopoly since 2020, has consistently generated lower revenues than private operators did before the market was restructured.

Data suggests low channelisation to the state operation, while revenue targets have repeatedly been missed, prompting the calls for privatisation through a concession model.

Under the proposed framework, a public call for proposals for Bulgaria’s national lottery and sports betting concession would be issued by March 31, 2026. Only Bulgarian-registered companies or foreign firms with a physical presence in Bulgaria would be allowed to apply to run the Sports Totalizator, and the concession would be granted for at least 15 years.