Bulgarian political factions have presented a plan to prohibit the promotion of wagering activities nationwide.
This action positions Bulgaria as the most recent nation to contemplate such a measure, as the movement to curb gambling-related promotions gains traction across Europe, particularly since it seems to have minimal effect on earnings.
Two of Bulgaria’s political organizations have advocated for a prohibition on gambling promotions within the nation.
The Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) and the Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB), a center and center-right party respectively, have put forth a suggestion to modify the Gambling Act.
The suggested alterations would limit land-based gaming establishments from operating in municipalities with fewer than 5,000 residents.
Furthermore, it would prohibit the display of any gambling-related advertisements in both physical and digital media formats, including television, billboards, periodicals, or social media platforms.
GERB deputy leader Temenuzhka Petkova stated: “It is widely known that in the past three years, there has been a significant rise in gambling-related dependencies within our society.
“This situation necessitates the implementation of appropriate measures to mitigate them.”
Alongside Petkova, Jordan Tsonev, deputy leader of the MRF parliamentary group, is spearheading the proposal.
The legislation was reportedly presented to the National Assembly on April 24th and aims to safeguard young individuals from the detrimental effects associated with addictive conduct.
However, Bulgaria is not the sole nation contemplating a ban on gambling advertisements.
Numerous nations, such as Belgium, Poland, and Italy, have implemented complete prohibitions on it. Following the enactment of its own prohibition on gambling advertisements, the Netherlands experienced a 28% increase in online gambling income, reaching a total of €1.39 billion ($1.51 billion), as per 2023 figures from the Dutch Gaming Authority (KSA). This information has bolstered backing for the proposition. In a parallel occurrence, London’s Assembly health committee has advocated for a ban on gambling promotions throughout the entirety of the Transport for London (TfL) system.
