Minimum Self-Exclusion Period in Bulgaria Increased to One Year
New Changes in the Self-Exclusion Law
As of March 27, 2025, a change has come into effect in Bulgaria, increasing the minimum self-exclusion period for players with gambling addiction to one year. Previously, the minimum period was 30 days.
How the Self-Exclusion Register Works
The self-exclusion register is designed for people experiencing gambling problems or those who want to limit their spending. Key features of the register include:
- Registration is available to everyone and is free of charge.
- Licensed operators are required to enforce the ban on gambling access for registered users.
- The minimum self-exclusion period is now one year.
- In 2024, a law was passed reducing the processing time for deregistration requests from two years to 30 days.
Impact of Changes on the Gambling Industry
The Bulgarian National Revenue Agency, which has regulated the gambling sector since 2021, aims to follow the best global practices.
The introduction of stricter rules is aimed at protecting players susceptible to gambling addiction.
Additional measures adopted in the country include:
- Ban on gambling advertisements in the media.
- Increased control over operators’ compliance with licensing requirements.
Statistics and Effectiveness of the Register
Currently, about 54,000 people are listed in the self-exclusion register. Expert estimates indicate that 3% of Bulgaria’s population is affected by gambling addiction, so the measures introduced could significantly reduce the number of problem gamblers.
Despite past regulatory challenges, new initiatives help steer the gambling industry in a safer direction and protect vulnerable citizens.