It Can Be Difficult for Bulgarians to Bet Online
How hard is it to place a wager once you have read our Bulgaria betting tips and are ready to get started? Sadly, there could be some hurdles along the way.
Now, let me clarify this point. This happens for reasons as clear as day: these are all sites regulated by Bulgarian authorities to cater for the needs of local players alone. Let me explain why some gambling operators do not accept Bulgarian customers. Thus, even though some of such sites appear on a notorious blacklist, they still take bets from Bulgarian sports betting enthusiasts. The reason is that they want to look accountable elsewhere in the globe and protect their chances of getting other licenses in future times.
You may experience issues with transactions at Bulgarian gambling sites if the Blacklist is implemented. Even though credit cards like Visa or MasterCard will process transactions for local websites, they may not do so for overseas ones.
Instead, we would suggest selecting an e-wallet such as NETELLER or Skrill. These act as a middleman online wallet allowing you to put in and pull out money through different websites without problems.
How Gambling Laws Have Evolved in Bulgaria
Online betting is permitted in Bulgaria, albeit with a series of changes relating to the rights of both gamblers and betting firms. A quick look at gambling regulations in Bulgaria today will tell you what you can or cannot do.
Because of the strict communist regime in place, gambling on sports was considered illegal then. Eurofootball, which is the first private bookmaker in Bulgaria, started operations only after it was legalized in 1990. Thus there were no formal licenses until 1993 when the company was allowed to operate by the government. In addition to this, a state-run lottery operator known as Sports Totalizator emerged and introduced pari-mutuel style betting games through it. As such, these two companies have rapidly expanded over time and are currently controlling the ground-based gaming industry.
Creation of the SCG
With the addition of the State Commission for Gambling (SCG) in 1998, regulation made a major stride. The SCG had some significant powers which included awarding licenses.
Another set of laws also came into existence in 2008 that allowed betting companies in Bulgaria to potentially operate online or via the Internet. As such, Eurofootball was allowed to advertise their prices, while Sports Totalizator remained the only licensed operator.
The Gambling Act 2012 and Increased Taxes
The year 2012 saw the popularity of online gambling in Bulgaria skyrocket as a result of the Gambling Act. It was however accompanied by a huge setback in terms of the 15% tax on total revenue. Fortunately, this did not extend to players but it made the provision of attractive odds difficult for betting companies in Bulgaria thus leaving everyone dissatisfied with the act.
The choice was quickly made in the opposite direction; that of 2013 when the Gambling Reform Bill saw the 15% tax hike discarded and replaced it with a one-off licensure fee plus 20% of gross profits, which proved to be much more manageable.
SCG Scandal
Instead, in the year 2020, the SCG was temporarily closed after allegations of corruption. In a move to have this body’s responsibilities transferred to another agency, a bill was passed. Additionally, Bulgaria’s lawmakers amended licensing fees upwards marginally, which will not affect gamers significantly.
What are the best betting sites in Bulgaria? In order to assist you, we have come up with a catalog of the most popular Bulgarian betting websites. On our lists, every site has something special to offer new clients generous bonuses, competing odds on various sports disciplines, an impressive variety of deposit methods and many other extras.
How can I deposit at Bulgarian betting sites? In order to deposit in Bulgarian betting sites, there are numerous payment options available. Most of the leading platforms will give you options including credit and debit cards, ePay and MINT, among other selections.
Do online betting sites accept Bulgarian lev? When you register with a Bulgarian-based site, depositing and withdrawing money will usually be simple in lev. On international sites, however, you might need to change your money into euros or some other prominent currency- the thing is that not always it happens automatically.
Q.What sport is Bulgaria known for? Bulgaria is a country that loves sport; its most popular sports are football, beach ball, and garden tennis. You can gamble on these sports at the most excellent Bulgarian sportsbooks and more.