Gamblers in Bulgaria will now have to self-exclude for a minimum period of one year following a shift in the country’s safer gambling framework.
The change, confirmed by the Bulgarian National Revenue Agency (NRA) to have been in place since 27 March, significantly extends the time period from the previous minimum of 30 days.
Players in the region suffering from gambling disorder can seek self-exclusion by either emailing the NRA with a written request or by going to an NRA office to physically submit this request into a kiosk.
In both instances, the request must include all personal information associated with the self-excluded customer, including an electronic signature. To cover one year, this signature could cost anywhere between £3 and £33, depending on the technology used. Players looking to self-exclude can pay more for a longer-lasting signature.
According to the NRA, there are currently 54,000 submitted self-exclusion requests. Operators found in breach of the self-exclusion rules will be fined BGN 5,000 (£2,1000), and further violations can lead to operators facing a license revocation.
The extension of the self-exclusion time limit forms part of wider reforms to Bulgaria’s gambling regulation.
Early last year, major political groups voted on a number of gambling amendments to include in the country’s current framework.
In addition to the minimum one-year self-exclusion time, other changes included a partial ban on gambling ads. Additionally, the draft proposal included the automatic addition of people receiving social support and those diagnosed with mental health conditions into the registry.
Reforms in Bulgaria focused on player protection follow a similar trend witnessed across Europe. Both Lithuania and Croatia have proposed amendments to their respective gambling frameworks.
Lithuania is seeking to increase its gambling age to 21 from 18 and mandate financial institutions block transactions from unlicensed gambling operators.
Meanwhile, in Croatia, measures outlined by Croatia’s parliament include new player protection rules, tightening rules on gambling venues and advertising and increased licensing fees and taxation.
However, the reforms may face backlash from the European Commission. In a landmark decision, the European Court deemed Lithuania’s changes unenforceable due to the European Commission not being properly notified.
