Bulgarian Online Gaming

Bulgaria began the process of liberalizing its online gaming markets in 2008, when the state began submitting draft legislation to the European Commission for approval.

In March 2012, the Bulgarian Parliament passed the new Bulgarian Gambling Law and it was published in the State Gazette on 29 March 2012. The new law went into effect on 1 July 2012. In theory, the law is supposed to allow operators the opportunity to obtain a Bulgarian gaming license and operate legally in the country. The law includes a ban on direct advertising of online gaming. Websites operating but not legally licensed and registered will be placed on a blacklist of illegal sites, fined and their websites blocked by the ISP. The blacklist is maintained by the State Gambling Commission, and Bulgaria has blacklisted dozens of online gaming sites.

In February 2014, the State Gambling Commission awarded Bulgaria's first online gaming license to PokerStars, and PokerStars.bg launched the following August. Unlike other European countries, Bulgaria decided not to close its market, allowing PokerStars players in Bulgaria to join the poker room's international player pool and compete against players from around the world.

Betfair received Bulgaria's second online gaming license shortly after PokerStars.

Online Gaming Properties Operating in Bulgaria