site.btaBulgarian Gaming Industry Boasts Increasing Payments to Public Purse

The Bulgarian gaming industry boasts increasing payments to the public purse. The gaming industry generated BGN 327 million in state budget revenue in 2022, up by 36% on BGN 240 million in 2021, Angel Iribozov, Chairman of the Board of the Association of Gaming Industry in Bulgaria (AGIB), told a news conference before the opening of the Balkan Entertainment and Gaming Exhibition (BEGE) 2023 and the Eastern European Gaming Summit in Sofia. Both events are organized by AGIB and are taking place on November 22 and 23.

Nearly BGN 286 million were contributed to the public purse between January and September 2023, so the level of tax revenue is relatively stable and increasing and this revenue has a 100% collection rate, Iribozov said.

The two events are being held for the 14th year in a row. This year BEGE has attracted exhibitors from Italy, Germany, Czechia, China, the UK, Slovenia, the Netherlands, France, Malta, Canada and the US, as well as the largest Bulgarian manufacturers and suppliers of gaming solutions

Gaming industry revenue included responsible gaming fees of BGN 7.33 million in 2022 and BGN 8.13 million in the first nine months of 2023, Iribozov said. AGIB insists that these funds be used for the prevention of gambling addiction.

Bulgaria has become a technology hub for leading global manufacturers in this industry, Iribozov said. More than 50 Bulgarian and foreign manufacturers have been licensed to carry out all or part of their high-tech activities in Bulgaria.

Iribozov noted the sector's capacity to create jobs in Bulgaria. This is one of the most high-tech sectors for highly skilled people: mathematicians, engineers, specialists in technology, design, marketing and music.

Aleksandar Popov, head of the Supervision of Gambling and Gambling Activities Directorate at the National Revenue Agency, said the invitation to the Agency shows the gambling regulator has built mutual trust and good partnerships with the business community.