Between January 1 and October 10, 2024, a total of 85 gaming halls in Bulgaria have closed, according to data from the National Revenue Agency (NRA) provided to the Association of the Gaming Industry in Bulgaria. Meanwhile, the number of operating casinos remains unchanged at 20, while the number of active gaming halls in the country stands at 1,098.

Amendments to the Gambling Act introduced in 2024 have increased state fees required to maintain licenses for gambling operations. For instance, the fee for a five-year license for casino games has risen from BGN 100,000 to BGN 300,000, while a ten-year license now costs BGN 600,000, up from BGN 200,000. Similar fee increases were implemented for gaming halls: the fee for a five-year license is now BGN 75,000 in towns with up to 500,000 residents and BGN 150,000 in larger cities. For a ten-year license, fees stand at BGN 150,000 and BGN 300,000, respectively. These increases apply to both new and existing licenses, with operators holding active licenses required to pay a one-time fee for the remaining term.

Another significant change in the Gambling Act requires that gambling venues be located only in areas with more than 10,000 residents or in close proximity to national resorts and border control checkpoints. Gambling operators have been given a three-year transition period to comply with these new requirements.

These legislative and financial changes have influenced the closure of certain gaming halls. Some have opted to relocate to areas that meet the new requirements, while others have chosen to relinquish their licenses.