Bulgaria to Adopt Euro Due to Illegal iGaming
The government is pushing forward the idea of switching from the Bulgarian lev to the euro as the national currency, with the main reason being the fight against illegal online gambling.
The Euro as a Tool Against Illegal Gambling
Switching to the EU’s single currency would improve financial monitoring, simplify transaction oversight, and promote market transparency.
Bulgaria plans to adopt the euro on January 1, 2026. An attempt to join the eurozone was made last year but was rejected due to high inflation.
Illegal Gambling and the Shadow Market
According to Deputy Interior Minister Filip Popov, illegal gambling strengthens the shadow economy and is linked to money laundering, human trafficking, drugs, and even weapons.
During the round table “Combating Gambling Addiction and Illegal Gambling,” officials and experts discussed the scale of the problem.
Participants included the Ministry of the Interior, the General Directorate for Combating Organized Crime (GDBOP), the National Revenue Agency (NRA), as well as psychiatrists and industry representatives.
Regulated Market vs. Illegal Sector
Rumen Petkov, former Minister of the Interior, noted that the problem lies not with licensed operators but with the shadow sector.
According to him, no licensed operator would allow underage users or risk losing their license. Meanwhile, such restrictions do not exist in the illegal segment.
He also emphasized that he advocates for a balanced approach in the fight against illegal gambling, without placing excessive pressure on the legal market.
Examples from Europe
- In the UK, authorities decided against banning gambling advertising in football.
- The Netherlands began a national-level discussion despite Europol’s involvement.
Impact on Youth and Social Risks
Psychiatrist Tsveteslava Galabova stated that young people most often start with illegal websites due to the thrill and lack of oversight.
Although gambling addiction is not officially recognized as a mental disorder, according to the national registry, about 50,000 people were registered as vulnerable players over the past two years.
For comparison, the number of registered alcoholics exceeds 200,000.
Funding and Transparency Issues
Petkov pointed out the lack of transparency in the use of funds allocated for prevention: “We monitor taxes but don’t see how the money is spent on prevention after entering the budget.”
Funds from illegal gambling flow into the grey zones of the economy — for bribery, influence, and financing of crime.
Government Agency Actions
| Agency | Measures |
|---|---|
| GDBOP | Blocking illegal websites, operational oversight |
| NRA | Joint campaigns with the Customs Agency, industry analysis |
| AGIB | Call for prioritizing the fight against illegal gambling |
AGIB emphasizes that fighting illegal operators must remain an institutional priority, given the scale of their impact on the economy and society.