13.10.2011

At its regular session the Government approved the draft of a new Law on Gambling. The draft has been coordinated with the European Commission and all EU Member States. The brand new draft regulates Internet gambling and that is the main novelty, said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Simeon Djankov to the media. Another major change is the increase of the requirements for the number of gambling slot machines and boards at the establishments. The aim is these establishments to be removed from the residential areas and the proposed change has primarily a social function - to prevent early addiction to gambling, pointed out the Finance Minister. According to data of the State Gambling Commission, approximately 20-25% of all gambling halls in the country must comply with the proposed requirements.  

The draft introduces the requirement for a five-year experience of the organizer or its partners and shareholders having qualifying holdings in the organization of the relevant game of chance, acquired in the country or on the territory of another country or jurisdiction where gambling activity is carried out lawfully. The bill provides that the communication equipment and the central point where the central computer system of the organizer is located should be physically located on the territory of Bulgaria or on the territory of another country from the European Economic Area. The central computer system of the organizer must include a system for registration and identification of participants in the games, as well as an automated system for storing and submitting the necessary information to the NRA, including for real-time submission of information on bets made and winnings paid out. In addition, operators are required to have an account opened for depositing bets and paying out of winnings with a bank that is entitled to operate in Bulgaria.