Report: Bulgaria dissolves Gambling Commission
MPs vote to transfer duties to the National Revenue Agency and implement culture-boosting tax
The Bulgarian National Assembly has passed a bill to dissolve the country’s Gambling Commission with its duties passed on to the National Revenue Agency.
According to the Sofia Globe, a second reading of the bill amending the Gambling Act was waived through today, quashing the formation of a new regulatory body – the State Agency for Gambling – as was envisioned in the initial bill.
As a result, the National Revenue Agency will now assume oversight of the nation’s gambling activity.
The amendment of the bill also saw the introduction of a 10% tax on gambling proceeds which would be funnelled to fund cultural initiatives in the European state.
The National Assembly, which is based in the capital of Sofia and holds 240 MPs, rejected an additional proposal which would have limited gambling to five-star hotels and resorts.
However, the National Revenue Agency’s Rosen Bachvarov told EGR that the process is still ongoing.
Bachvarov said: “There is ongoing legislative process of transferring gambling control competences towards National Revenue Agency. The official act hasn’t been passed yet.”
EGR has contacted the Bulgarian Gambling Commission for comment.