Bulgaria’s Parliament bans lottery games organized by private operators

Bulgaria's Parliament on February 7 at second reading passed the amendements to the Gambling Act thus banning lottery games organised by private operators. Under the amendments, the State-owned Bulgarian Sports Totalizator (BST) alone will be able to organize lotteries.

The sale of tickets and card for private gambling games will be discontinued on the day the law came into force, after it is promulgated in the State Gazette. Organizer of the game, not the state, will be responsible for paying the winnings.

The provisions were backed by MP’s from GERB and their junior partner in the coalition government, the United Patriots.

Private lottery operators would automatically lose their licences at that point. They will not have the right to sell their existing stock of lottery tickets, which will have to be destroyed by the end of 2020.

Valeri Simeonov (from the United Patriots), who is the driving force behind the revision said that all unpaid winners can contact the relevant lottery operator and take action to get their winnings according to the common rules of the games concerned or can file lawsuits to receive the money.

He does not think that the State should interfere in private-legal relations.

The amendments apply to lotteries, meaning private companies can still operate raffles, bingo and keno games.