Most Popular eSports Bookies in Bulgaria

eSports betting began in Bulgaria during the late 1990s. However, only a few operators covered eSports markets. The main reason for the limited coverage was that the eSports gaming world was still underdeveloped, with very few reputable organizations running eSports tournaments. All forms of online gambling were also illegal at the time. The popularity of eSports betting thus grew very gradually.

In 2008, online casinos were legalized in Bulgaria. Online eSports betting sites thus began operating legally within the country but under an established legislative framework. eSports gaming was quite popular. A variety of attractive and entertaining games had been introduced, according punters more betting options. Technology had also advanced such that more punters were able to access eSports casinos. Most casino operators began offering eSports betting markets, which attracted the curiosity of most punters.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Bulgarian punters had limited betting options. Most of the regular sports matches and tournaments were canceled or postponed. Most players turned to eSports betting, which was the least affected as tournaments could be played online. eSports betting had the highest popularity growth rate during that period.

Future of esports betting in Bulgaria

Industry experts predict that eSports betting will continue to be an open but regulated gambling market. The growing popularity of eSports betting in Bulgaria will undoubtedly see increased revenues for the government, which can be channeled to critical infrastructural developments in the country.

The raging competition among eSports betting providers is poised to improve the quality of gambling services and products. That will most likely attract more players to this niche market, considering that most bettors are always looking for the best betting deals. The exciting experience offered by most eSports games, which will become even better, will also contribute a lot to more punters betting on eSports.

The 'turning point' in modern gambling in Bulgaria happened in 1993. The fresh set of legislation massively catapulted the gambling industry into thriving and allowed the government to benefit from it.

The legalization of online gambling in 2008 was also quite significant. That came when online gambling was taking over the gambling industry worldwide. Thanks to that, more than 80% of Bulgarian punters gamble online.

Esports nowadays in Bulgaria

Currently, the Bulgarian government is looking at ways to improve the efficacy of the eSports gambling industry regulations. That indicates a likelihood of changes in the gambling laws in the future, though it is doubtful that gambling will be made illegal.

All forms of betting in Bulgaria are regulated under the Gambling Act of 2012. The State Commission on Gambling is charged with the primary supervisory and regulatory functions. The administrative body works under the Minister of Finance. Some of its roles and responsibilities are issuing licenses to gambling operators, issuing mandatory rules and requirements for providing gambling services, approving software used by online operators, and performing general control and supervision of gambling in the country.

Gambling products

The Bulgarian law specifies all the gambling products that casino operators can offer. Some of them have specific requirements regarding licensing, but the general procedure is similar for all products. The first category of products consists of casino games, including card and table games.

The second category is betting. Betting is further classified into different subcategories, including betting on random events, betting related to knowledge of facts, and sports betting. eSports betting is considered part of sports betting. Other categories are slots and machine gaming, terminal-based gaming, bingo, and lottery.

Gambling taxation

The Bulgarian gambling laws require casino operators to pay corporate income taxes for all generated revenues. The tax paid depends on several factors, including the casino games or betting types offered and the equipment used. The tax thresholds are usually calculated in percentages.

Land-based casinos are liable to pay an additional 15% to the State Commission on Gambling (SCG) monthly as license maintenance fees. For games that pay participation commissions, the casino must also pay 20% of the commission amount to the SCG. Personal income tax is not paid on winnings from gambling games, as per the Individual Incomes Taxes Act of 2006.

Offshore casino operators are not required to pay corporate income taxes unless they own operations or assets in Bulgaria that are considered permanent establishments that attract local taxation. Local servers and representatives do not represent permanent establishments. Online gambling operators' monthly license maintenance fee is 20% of the gross gaming revenue and commission.

Legal developments

Since the Gambling Act of 2012 was adopted, there have been minimal developments related to the gambling laws. Some of the results were on a case-by-case basis, primarily related to enhancing the gambling regulations.

Currently, there are no significant reforms or developments related to the legal framework of gambling in Bulgaria planned. There was an amendments bill to the Gambling Act filed in 2018, which aimed to restrict gambling operators to selling tickets and scratch cards only at specified locations and introduce limitations to advertising gambling games. The parliament never processed the bill further, and it remains unclear whether it will pass it into law in the future.

Bank Cards

Most Bulgarian punters prefer using bank cards to deposit funds to their online eSports betting accounts. About 72% of the adult population in Bulgaria have credit or debit cards. Most punters have easy access to bank cards accepted by the best betting sites in Bulgaria. Making deposits using bank cards is relatively more accessible than most other alternatives as it eliminates the need for transferring funds to an intermediary account.

E-Wallets

E-wallets are the second most popular choice of payment method among Bulgarian punters. There are many e-wallet services available in Bulgaria, which punters can choose from as per their needs. Punters prefer e-wallets mostly because they allow withdrawal of funds from most eSports casinos, unlike many other options. E-wallets are also usually reliable and easy to use.

Cryptocurrencies

Cryptocurrencies are gradually becoming popular among Bulgarian punters. That is primarily because of the high privacy levels the payment method offers. It comes in handy for punters looking to try out new casinos as they do not need to provide their banking information when transacting. Most individuals also consider dealing with most cryptocurrencies as financial investments due to their high volatility.

Bank Transfers

Some Bulgarian punters prefer direct bank transfers when depositing funds to their eSports betting accounts, especially when the deposit amount is high. Direct bank transfers are generally safe and easy to trace. Online banking also makes the process relatively simple.