Bulgaria Will Raise Gambling Taxes in 2026 Budget : PMPMedia.io

By Arijit Roul - 12 Nov, 2025 More about the author

The Medium-Term Budget Forecast (2026-2028) shows changes to the Gambling Act. The variable state licence fee portion climbs from 20% to 25%. Finance Ministry officials revealed tax hikes for [gambling] operators. These modifications appear in the Medium-Term Budget Forecast covering 2026-2028. Amendments target the Gambling Act’s two-part state fee structure. Variable components jump from 20% to 25% starting 1 January 2026. Lotteries, raffles, toto, bingo, keno and online betting face these changes.

Operators currently hand over BGN 300,000 ($177,000) fixed fees for most games. They also pay 20% variable fees on bet-payout differences. Online betting companies fork out BGN 400,000 fixed amounts. The 20% variable rate remains identical. This five percentage point rise should bring €32m ($37m) extra state revenue.

Finance Ministry Seeks Higher Budget for Social and Economic Programs

The Finance Ministry wants more budget money for social and economic spending. Public interest drives this decision. The forecast skips 2027-2028 impact calculations despite covering those years. Former Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev’s caretaker Government suggested similar ideas during the 2025 budget talks. That plan wanted 20% to 30% increases but got scrapped with banking sector taxes.

Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov’s current Government chose different paths. Banks now make BGN 500m advance profit tax payments. Bulgaria keeps examining [gambling] regulation and social effects. Government agencies launched education programs about underage and online gambling this year. Officials worry about expanding black-market casino operations.