During a press conference of the BSP United Left last Friday, Rumen Petkov raised concerns about the damaging effects of illegal gambling on society. He emphasized that while Bulgaria has 25 licensed gambling operators and 46 issued online gambling licenses, the primary concern is not the financial loss to the national budget but rather the social consequences of unregulated gambling. He highlighted that minors and unregistered individuals are the most vulnerable victims of illegal gambling.

“We are witnessing a doubling of websites engaged in illegal online gambling,” Petkov stated.

In a follow-up interview with Pogled Info, Petkov criticized the lack of institutional and media focus on the issue, describing illegal gambling as a serious threat to society. He acknowledged that while recent measures against illegal gambling are justified, they have also led to a rise in unauthorized platforms.

Petkov further explained that legally registered gambling activities are subject to strict medical and financial oversight, ensuring player protection. Licensed operators must maintain comprehensive documentation and take measures to safeguard users in cases of financial distress or excessive losses.

“The inaction of both the state and the European institutions, coupled with the absence of a unified regulatory framework to combat illegal gambling, is alarming,” Petkov noted.

According to him, illegal gambling is a well-organized criminal network with two primary objectives – corruption and organized crime. The United Left coalition is committed to addressing this issue by strengthening prevention and educational programs in schools. Petkov assured that efforts will focus on tackling this systemic problem, which he described as not only Bulgarian but also pan-European.

“A battle against illegal gambling is ahead, and it won’t be fought solely in Europe. The issue extends to Asia and the United States as well,” Petkov concluded.