Online poker is legal in Bulgaria under the comprehensive Gambling Act of 2012, which allows licensing of various types of online games including betting, poker, and casino games. The National Revenue Agency (NRA) serves as the gambling regulator after the dissolution of the State Commission on Gambling in 2020, and is responsible for issuing licenses to operators who wish to offer online poker services (1). All forms of gambling are legal in Bulgaria, including online casino games, sportsbooks, poker, and bingo, making it one of the more gambling-friendly jurisdictions in Europe.
The regulatory framework requires operators to obtain proper licensing from the NRA and comply with strict oversight requirements including regular software quality checks and data submission obligations. The Ministry of Finance regulates taxation on gambling activities through Articles 219 to 247 of the Corporate Income Tax Act, with online gambling taxed at a 10% corporate tax rate on taxable profits (2). The government maintains strict controls over unlicensed operators, with internet service providers prohibited from granting access to unlicensed gambling sites and payment institutions barred from facilitating transactions with unauthorized gambling entities.
"Bulgarian law allows licensing various types of online games, including betting, poker and casino games. However, except for instant lottery games, online gambling may only be offered to Bulgarian residents."
While online poker is fully legal for licensed operators, the Bulgarian government actively blocks foreign gambling sites that do not hold valid Bulgarian licenses. The licensing fees for organizing gambling tournaments such as poker include a 20% commission on collected fees, with online operations subject to additional annual charges of BGN 400,000 plus 20% on the positive difference between bets and profits paid. This regulatory approach ensures that only properly licensed and supervised operators can legally offer poker services to Bulgarian residents, creating a controlled but legitimate online poker market.
Source:
https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=90b07d7c-464c-440f-8993-f00e6c35b7bd
https://www.minfin.bg/en/777
Last updated: 27-09-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
