Many amendments of the Gambling act were published in State Gazette no. 69 of August 4 2020. The most important of them is the change of the monitoring body and the additional requirements for obtaining a license.
Monitoring body
The state gambling commission will no longer be
the authority controlling the gambling activities. The licensing will be within the competence of the director of the National Revenue Agency or a vice director authorized by him. The state supervision will also be led by the National Revenue Agency.
Licensing Requirements
The amendments set new licensing requirements for gambling services. Licensing can be granted only to a limited liability company or a joint-stock company with a fully paid capital amounting to BGN 1 500 000 or the equivalent amount of another currency.
A license for games with slot machines may be granted only to limited liability companies or joint-stock companies with a fully paid capital amounting to BGN 500 000 or the equivalent amount of another currency.
The procedure was regulated by the Ordinance regarding the needed documents for obtaining a license under the Gabling act of 2013. Since the State Gambling Commission will no longer be the authority controlling the gambling activities, the Ordinance will most likely be amended as well.
The amendments provide that the State shall be the only one entitled to organize lottery games, except bingo, keno, and their variants.
The effect over already operating companies
The law clearly states that the licenses which are already granted shall be deemed valid. Those, who have received a permit under the repealed Gambling Act, shоould bring their organization and activity in compliance with this Act within 15 months from its entry into force.
Anticipated subdelegated legislation
Тhe Council of Ministers shall adopt several Ordinances upon the suggestion of the minister of finance. They will regulate the gambling activity itself and not the licensing process. There will even be an Ordinance for the registry and electronic services of the National Revenue Agency and Bulgarian metrology institute.
At this moment there is no clear information about the time when these acts shall be adopted.
On 07.08.2020 the State Gambling Commission will no longer be the controlling authority and its competence will be transferred to the National Revenue Agency. Additional information will be provided on the website of the latter.
