Bulgaria’s self-exclusion register for individuals struggling with gambling-related harm or seeking to control their spending has been updated with a big change: Those who register will now get an exclusion period of one year.
The new rule was introduced on March 27, 2025, and was confirmed by the National Revenue Agency of Bulgaria, which has overseen gambling regulation in the country since March 21, 2021.
Previously, players could self-exclude for as little as 30 days, but the new policy extends the minimum duration to one year, aligning with international practices aimed at protecting vulnerable players from gambling-related harm.
According to recent data from the regulatory body of Bulgaria, nearly 54,000 individuals have already registered for self-exclusion to diminish excessive gambling.
Although the register remains private, all licensed operators in the country are required to comply with its restrictions, ensuring that listed players are banned from gambling.
Participation in the register is free and open to any citizen seeking to limit their gambling habits, where with this latest revision, individuals can now choose to exclude themselves for a minimum of one year or longer.
Despite the extended exclusion period, a legal amendment from 2024 has significantly shortened the time required to exit the register.
Previously, players had to wait two years before applying for removal, but this time has now been reduced to just 30 days, a change that was introduced as part of a major legislative reform that also imposed a nationwide ban on gambling ads.
Bulgaria’s self-exclusion system has been widely praised, providing much-needed support to problem gamblers who previously lacked such an option.
Although a bit late, the update is particularly important given that about 3% of the Bulgarian population is affected by some level of gambling addiction.
