Bulgaria’s National Revenue Agency (NRA) continues to accelerate its enforcement actions against illegal online gambling platforms through its centralised blacklisting protocol. Operating under the statutory mandate established by the country’s Gambling Act, the NRA regularly updates its public register of unauthorised internet domains that offer gaming services to domestic users without an active Bulgarian licence.
The regulatory register acts as the foundational trigger for legal proceedings, enabling the state to systematically identify unlicensed operators and initiate court-mandated network blocks across the country.
Statutory Escalation Procedure and Court Mandates
The enforcement process in Bulgaria follows a strict, multi-stage legal structure designed to swiftly restrict market access for unlicensed entities:
- Initial Electronic Identification: The NRA’s Electronic Audit of Systems of Gambling Operators unit monitors digital traffic and flags platforms targeting Bulgarian consumers without authorisation.
- Three-Day Compliance Warning: The Executive Director of the NRA issues a formal notice directing the illegal domain operator to cease operations and block domestic access within three business days.
- Judicial Review Referral: If an operator fails to comply within the three-day window, the NRA files an administrative application with the competent regional court.
- Binding ISP Injunctions: Upon reviewing the case, presiding magistrates issue binding court orders instructing all domestic Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to immediately sever access to the listed domains and subdomains.
Direct Targeting of Affiliates, Payments, and Media Channels
Bulgaria’s regulatory push extends far beyond foreign operator domains. The enforcement regime actively targets the broader marketing and financial pipelines that support the unauthorised market.
Regulatory authorities and legal experts note that Bulgarian gambling legislation targets affiliates and payments, creating severe legal risks for third-party media outlets and payment processors that facilitate traffic or financial settlement for blacklisted entities. Marketing intermediaries, affiliate sites, and media partners promoting non-compliant brands risk substantial administrative fines, asset freezes, and inclusion in state enforcement actions.
Broader Legislative Context and Fiscal Pressures
The blacklisting regimen takes place against the backdrop of significant structural changes within Bulgaria’s regulated iGaming sector. The government has combined domain-level enforcement with strict fiscal updates to maximise state revenue and protect domestic consumers.
The fiscal landscape for legal operators tightened considerably after Bulgaria increased the gambling tax to 25 per cent in the 2026 budget measures, significantly raising compliance costs for authorised market participants. High taxation underscores the state’s motivation to aggressively eliminate black-market operators that contribute no domestic tax revenue.
Simultaneously, government officials continue to evaluate expanded social protection policies. Discussions remain active around the proposed Bulgaria gambling addiction treatment fund proposal, which aims to divert regulatory fees and industry contributions into national responsible gaming initiatives.
By pairing strict court-backed domain blocking with tighter financial controls and marketing restrictions, Bulgaria is maintaining one of Eastern Europe’s most rigid regulatory enforcement frameworks for online gambling.