Bulgaria casinos are legal and licensed, and the country also allows slot halls, sports betting, lotteries and online gambling, but only with a Bulgarian licence. The National Revenue Agency (NRA) has regulated gambling since 2020, the minimum age is 18, and rules on advertising and taxes have tightened in recent years, with more changes proposed in 2026. Most casinos are in Sofia and on the Black Sea coast.
Bulgaria gambling at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Casinos legal | Yes, with a Bulgarian licence |
| Online gambling | Legal only on NRA-licensed sites |
| Regulator | National Revenue Agency (since 2020) |
| Minimum age | 18 |
| Currency | Euro (since January 1, 2026) |
| Main casino areas | Sofia, Varna, Burgas, Sunny Beach |
| Last checked | November 2026 |
Is gambling legal in Bulgaria?
Yes. Legal gambling in Bulgaria dates back to the early 1990s, and today the Gambling Act covers casinos, slot halls, sports betting, lotteries, bingo and online gambling. Each activity needs its own licence. The main rules:
- Regulator. The National Revenue Agency licenses operators, collects gambling taxes and keeps the public registers. It took over in 2020, when parliament abolished the State Commission on Gambling.
- Minimum age. 18, for casinos and online play. A draft bill tabled in February 2026 proposed raising it to 21, and the industry opposed it.
- Online gambling. Legal, but only on sites licensed in Bulgaria. The NRA keeps a public blacklist of unlicensed sites, internet providers must block them, and banks and payment firms must stop payments to them. Unlicensed operators face fines of up to 1 million leva.
- Advertising. Gambling ads have been banned since May 2024 on TV, in print, online and in public places such as billboards and bus stops. Limited exceptions remain, including signs on the operator’s own premises, limited sports sponsorship and messages to registered players.
- Taxes. Online gambling, lotteries, toto, bingo and keno pay 25% of gross gaming revenue from January 1, 2026, up from 20%. Casinos and slot halls pay mainly through licence fees and fixed annual charges per table and machine.
Where Bulgarian gambling is heading
Gambling has become a political issue in Bulgaria. Government figures put the industry’s turnover at €33 billion in 2025, up from €22 billion three years earlier, and more than 50,000 people have signed up to the NRA’s register of vulnerable people who want their access to gambling restricted.
In September 2026, Prime Minister Rumen Radev announced plans for a near-total ban on gambling advertising, including the bright lights on casino and gaming hall facades, a new tax model with higher taxes on online gambling, and a requirement for foreign operators licensed in Bulgaria to register their financial activity there. Opposition parties have also proposed banning cryptocurrency payments for gambling. These are proposals, and the government said the Gambling Act amendments would go to public consultation first.
What gambling is like in Bulgaria
Bulgaria sits on the Balkan Peninsula in southeastern Europe, and its casinos serve tourists as much as locals. Casinos are concentrated in Sofia, the capital, in the port cities of Varna and Burgas, and in the Black Sea resort of Sunny Beach. Most are part of a hotel or sit close to one, and they compete for visitors with rooms, restaurants and Las Vegas-style gaming floors.
Away from the casinos, most local play happens in slot halls. The law sets minimum sizes for both: a casino needs at least five gaming tables, and a slot hall needs at least 20 machines in a city of more than 50,000 people, or 10 elsewhere.
Casinos change names and operators often, so check that a venue is open before you plan a trip around it.
Games you will find
Bulgarian casinos offer the usual European mix of table games and machines: roulette, blackjack, baccarat and punto banco, poker games such as Caribbean stud poker, three card poker and Texas Hold’em, and slot machines and electronic roulette.
Sports betting is popular, and football (soccer) is the favourite. Bets can be placed in licensed betting shops or online with NRA-licensed operators.
Lotteries. The state-owned Bulgarian Sports Totalizator runs the state lottery.
Online gambling is legal for players in Bulgaria, but only on NRA-licensed sites. That goes for big international names such as bet365 and for games from studios such as NetEnt: before you play, check that the site appears on the NRA’s register of licensed operators rather than its blacklist. For online gambling in the US, see our online casinos section.
Bulgaria casinos FAQ
What is the gambling age in Bulgaria?
18, for both casinos and online gambling. A 2026 draft bill proposed raising it to 21.
Who regulates gambling in Bulgaria?
The National Revenue Agency, which replaced the State Commission on Gambling in 2020.
Can you gamble online in Bulgaria?
Yes, but only with operators licensed in Bulgaria. Unlicensed sites are blacklisted and blocked, and payments to them are stopped.
What currency do Bulgarian casinos use?
The euro. Bulgaria adopted it on January 1, 2026, replacing the lev.
Please gamble responsibly. In Bulgaria, you can ask the NRA to add you to its register of people who want their gambling restricted. In the US, call or text the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET.