Online casinos in Bulgaria: Best BG Casino Sites

History of casino gambling in Bulgaria

In Bulgaria, the gambling industry evidenced a dynamic history determined by legal ambiguities and the final evolution toward clearer regulation. By the end of the 19th century, gambling faced a ban due to the lack of a legal framework that could cope with high gambling debts. During the prohibition, the state lottery of money and goods was the only legal institution. Now, despite the restriction, gambling persisted in large cities until the middle of the 20th century, including establishments with slot machines.

By the second half of the 20th century, considerable advances occurred, such as the introduction of Sports Toto in 1957 and the progressive appearance of betting salons and gaming casinos in the 1970s. Although growth can be seen, the industry lacked substantial regulations until the end of the 20th century.  Moreover, gambling had a technically illegal status until 1993, which in turn coincided with the democratization of Bulgaria. The first Gambling Law and Regulation in Bulgaria was enacted in 1998, and it was by 2008 that online gambling was officially legalized, and in 2012 comprehensive regulations were determined.

Currently, the Bulgarian gaming sector, both online casino sites and physical ones, faces challenges stemming from past associations with illicit sectors. However, for the average player, the gaming experience in Bulgaria is in line with global standards, so there is a noticeable change from the historical insecurity that characterized the country's gaming industry.

How are online casinos regulated in Bulgaria?

Since 2020, the Bulgarian National Revenue Agency (NRA) has regulated the Bulgarian gaming sector. The regulation deals with various aspects such as supervision, gaming integrity, and licensing to ensure a safe and fair environment.

The best casinos in Bulgaria: Comparison

Exploring the rich history of Bulgaria's casino landscape, we compare the finest gaming establishments to you.

Gambling taxes in Bulgaria

Financial transparency is essential to certify fairness and trust in gambling. It provides users and authorities with the necessary clarity in the financial operations of casinos and gambling houses, guaranteeing that both income and payments are verifiable and secure. It also enhances the integrity of a regulated gaming environment that protects consumers and strengthens the industry's reputation.

In Bulgaria, there are two main types of tax related to gambling. The first tax of 15% is for bets made by telephone or other electronic means. The same must be done before the 10th of the following month, and the operator of the electronic service is responsible for withholding and paying the tax within the same period.

The second tax is for organizers of slot games and casino games, excluding online games. For this tax, the declaration must be made before the 15th of the following month, and the amount to be paid will vary according to the game:

• Each gaming machine or place in a gaming hall or casino is taxed at BGN 500 per quarter.
• Each roulette table in a casino has a tax of BGN 22,000 per quarter.
• Other types of gaming equipment in a casino are taxed at BGN 5,000 per quarter.

Main provisions of the Gambling Act

The NRA regulates the Bulgarian gaming industry with the help of the Gambling Act. This Act stipulates the main provisions of the sector.

Article 2 details the definitions of gambling, as well as its participants:

1. Gambling is any game of chance in which a wager is placed, and there may be gain or loss from the wager.
2. A participant in a game of chance is the person who has placed a wager to participate in the game.
3. Only persons of legal age who can legally participate in games of chance and for whom no restrictions are provided in this or other laws may participate in games of chance. Persons with legal incapacity may receive tickets or tokens to participate in conventional lotteries, pools, and raffles only as a gift.

Furthermore, article 45, paragraph 2 states:

The following individuals shall not be admitted into gambling halls and casinos:

1. Individuals under the age of 18;
2. Uniformed individuals, except for individuals attending in line of duty;
3. Armed individuals, except for attending in line of duty which requires their armed presence;
4. Individuals without identity documents;
5. Individuals who have violated the order in the casino, including individuals in a state of intoxication or under the effect of drugs or other psychotropic substances;
6. Individuals who have jeopardized the order and have disturbed the conduct of the games and who have been prohibited by the organizer from participating in gambling games.

The Bulgarian Gambling Act makes no legal distinction between online and stationary casinos, except for Article 44, paragraph 1:

(Amended, SG No. 79/2015, effective 1.08.2016) Gambling halls and casinos may not be located at a distance less than 300 meters—from schools within the meaning of the Pre-school and School Education Act, as well as from orphanage homes for children deprived of parental care unless they are housed in hotels of “four star” or “five-star” categories.

The most popular casino games in Bulgaria

Bulgarian players prefer slots but also enjoy live dealer tables, classic table games, and RNG card games. Among the most popular games and titles in Bulgaria are:

Online slot machines

The selection of slots ranges from the most classic 3-reel slots to the modern 5-reel and more. Among the most famous titles are 40 Super Hot, 40 Burning Hot, Flaming Hot, and Secrets of Alchemy.

Jackpots

The slots from the Age of the Gods—God of Storms, and Furious 4 series by Playtech are the most played by Bulgarians. The jackpots of Pharaoh's Treasure Deluxe and Great Blue Jackpot exceed one million leva.

Table games

Bulgarian online casinos have a large presence of games such as roulette, baccarat, blackjack, and craps.

Live dealer games

Live casino games are quite widespread in Bulgarian online casinos. The most popular are roulette and blackjack from Evolution Gaming and Ezugi providers.

The most famous casino players in Bulgaria

Alex Kulev is a Bulgarian player with the highest number of poker wins. His best year was 2022, when he conquered the top positions in the Poker Stakes ranking. Kulev's versatile playing style allowed him to win his first bracelet in July in event #84, the $50,000 High Roller. Kulev's victory represented a profit of $2,087,073, the biggest one so far.

This is the third of Kulev's million-dollar prizes achieved in 2023. In the $250,000 Super High Roller, Kulev won his second grand prize of the year for $1,632,005. The first millionaire prize was the €100,000 Super High Roller at the EPT Monte Carlo, where he achieved €1 036 287.

Future of online casinos in Bulgaria

In 2008, the Bulgarian government started legalizing online casinos, so in 2012 the Online Gambling Act was presented, and the tax policies were delimited. All these regulatory developments and technological advances give Bulgaria's gambling market quite a promising future. An important point for the expansion is the sector has support from the government.

Advances concerning virtual and augmented reality will enhance the players' experience and broaden the audience. Also, there is a strong presence of increasingly strict regulations to ensure responsible gaming, helping players while giving more credibility to the industry.