Gambling has taken center stage as Bulgaria debates entering the Eurozone. With the country currently at a crossroadsthis time, with the European Unions currency in sight, policy makers have cited gambling as one of the reasons to go forth with the plans of adopting the euro.
Joining euro a ‘significant breakthrough’
Atanas Zafirov, Bulgarias Deputy Prime Minister, in a recent speech at the National Centre for Information and Documentation, linked the Eurozone membership directly to the countrys ability to crack down on unregulated gambling operations. He called joining the euro a significant breakthrough that could finally help Bulgaria curb its rampant grey economy, especially those generated by illegal gambling activities. The absence of regulatory measures to address unlicenced gambling was termed a major societal issue by Zafirov.
Finance Minister Temenuzhka Petkova of the GERB party (Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria) calls joining the euro strategic. She argues that adopting the euro is vital for stabilising Bulgarias finances during times of global turmoil and send a strong message of EU solidarity. Deputy Minister Filip Popov also expressed his support for Eurozone accession. Linking illegal gambling to organised crime, he said illegal operations can act as seed money for everything from drugs to human trafficking.
Bulgarians must have the final say: critics
On the other end of the spectrum are voices like President Radev, a known skeptic of the Eurozone, who has repeatedly called for a national referendum. He argues that Bulgarians must have the final say in such a historic transition. His argument is that it would help facilitate open public debate and act as a counterbalance to Bulgaria’s political leadership. Other critics have argued that the people are not yet ready to accept the euro. Some also say that the acceptance of euro might pose a negative effect on Bulgaria’s national sovereignty and monetary policy.
Turning to the country’s gambling sector, last month, The Bulgarian National Revenue Agency (NRA), the governmental department that oversees gambling in the country, announced a change to its self-exclusion register for problem gamblers. The NRA raised the minimum self-exclusion term from 30 days to a year, effective from 27 March 2025. By extending the self-exclusion period, Bulgarias gambling authority aims to strengthen protections for individuals at risk of gambling-related harm. It also intends to align its gambling regulations with worldwide best practices, providing people with more time to manage their gambling addictions.
Last year, the NRA intensified efforts to fight illegal online gambling within the country. More than 2,500 websites involved in unauthorised gambling activities were blocked by the regulator. In September alone, the NRAs executive director issued around 640 orders to cease operations of unlicenced betting platforms operating in Bulgaria.
