The newly established Coalition Parliament in Bulgaria has held a press conference highlighting its approach to key policy problems, including the growing issue of illegal gambling and illegal online casinos.
Rosen Zhelyazkov has taken office as Prime Minister, with the Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) holding 11 ministerial seats, whereas the pro-Russia Socialist Party (BSP) and the populist group “There Is Such a People” (ITN) have each secured four seats.
Rumen Petkov, a BSP member, spoke during the press conference and criticized Europe’s lack of a unified register for illegal gambling websites, arguing that such a database would aid regulatory bodies in combatting the issue.
This creates the perfect conditions for illegal online gambling to flourish across the continent. It poses a serious risk to public health, family finances, and overall well-being. Moreover, the unchecked flow of funds is often funnelled into political influence campaigns, drug production and trade, and human trafficking.
Petkov described the situation as a major threat to modern society and expressed deep concern over what he perceives as Europe’s failure to take decisive action.
During the conference, he revealed a recent report from Bulgaria’s National Gambling Regulator (NRA), which showed that there are a whopping 5,174 illegal gambling websites opposite to just 25 licensed operators.
The report revealed that in 2024 alone, the number of illegal sites had increased by 3,007, despite last year’s efforts of Bulgaria’s National Revenue Agency (NRA) when it successfully shut down more than 2,500 of these platforms.
Petkov went on to outline the dominance of illegal gambling in the online sphere, warning that recent state-imposed restrictions on licensed operators’ advertising have inadvertently contributed to the rise of illegal gambling platforms.
According to Petkov, the data “clearly shows that, following the state’s measures to limit licensed operators’ advertising, we’ve witnessed an alarming surge in illegal online gambling”,
Bulgaria’s concerns align with broader European efforts to regulate gambling. For instance, the Netherlands recently proposed raising the minimum gambling age to 21 to better protect young people from potential harm.
