A ban on gambling advertising on television, radio, print and the Internet came into force in Bulgaria after being published in the State Gazette and signed by President Rumen Radev.
Lawmakers approved the ban last month despite opposition from operators and the media.
Permitted gambling advertising includes billboards located more than 100 meters from schools, as well as advertising on the facades of gaming halls and casinos. These notices must contain warnings about responsible gambling and occupy at least 10 percent of the area.
Violation of the ban is punishable by a fine of up to BGN50,000 ($27,820) and possible loss of license for repeated violations.
The rules do not apply to television broadcasts of national sports betting.
198 deputies voted for the bill introduced by Temenuzka Petkova (GERB) and Yordan Tsonev (DPS) in the second reading.
New rules for slot machines
The bill, in addition to restrictions on advertising, prohibits slot machines and casino gambling in communities with fewer than 10,000 people, with the exception of national resorts and border areas. It also raises the minimum capital for companies applying for a slot machine license from 500,000 levs ($312,500) to 750,000 levs ($750,000) and introduces a “social responsibility fee” of 100,000 levs ($62,500) for online gaming. gambling, half of which will be sent to the Ministry of Health to fund treatment and support for people affected by gambling.
Under the new bill, people receiving social assistance will no longer be able to opt out of the national gambling self-exclusion register. The Electronic Media Council will monitor compliance with advertising rules, and violations will be referred to the Bulgarian National Revenue Agency (NRA), which is responsible for regulating gambling. The bill comes after a previous proposal to ban gambling advertising was rejected in a parliamentary vote last month.
At the same time, Romania introduced a ban on rural gambling, banning slot machines in towns with a population of less than 15,000 people.
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