Balkans
State Lottery in Bulgaria Set for Privatisation
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The ruling parliamentary majority in Bulgaria, represented by Kostadin Angelov (GERB), Dragomir Stoynev (BSP), and Yordan Tsonev (DPS-New Beginning), has submitted a proposal to amend the Gambling Act within the transitional and final provisions of the State Budget Law. The submission, sent on November 24 to both the Chairman of the Budget and Finance Committee and the Chairman of the National Assembly, aims to grant a long-term concession for the Bulgarian Sports Totalizator (BST), with the State Budget Law set for a second reading on Thursday, November 28.
The lawmakers argue that despite BST’s monopoly position, its revenues are lower than those of private gambling operators prior to the 2020 legal changes. They cite market analysis showing that the state lottery is not a leading operator in the gambling sector, and suggest that privatisation via concession is necessary to make it competitive. The concession would be overseen by the Minister of Youth and Sports, who would handle both granting and monitoring the contract.
Under the proposed framework, the concession could only be awarded to a Bulgarian-registered legal entity or to a foreign entity with an officially registered business in Bulgaria. A call for expressions of interest is required to be published by March 31, 2026, allowing operators to submit investment proposals. The concession would last at least 15 years, giving the private operator full rights to BST’s betting points, systems, equipment, valuable samples and intellectual property.
Financially, the concessionaire would transfer 10% of its corporate tax payments to the Ministry of Youth and Sports, to fund physical education, sports facilities, and related activities, with 10% of this sum earmarked for the National Culture Fund. Additionally, 30% of the concession fee would be allocated to sports clubs and federations. After the concession, BST would no longer organise gambling games, and any existing tickets, slips or coupons would be invalidated and destroyed.
The proposal has drawn controversy, particularly because the lottery was nationalized and granted monopoly status only a few years ago, following the revocation of licenses for Vasil Bozhkov’s private gambling companies. Proponents argue that the lottery lacks sufficient financial resources and operational know-how to compete with private online operators, pointing to its underperformance against budgeted revenues. In 2023, BST aimed for BGN 190 million (€96.9 million) but achieved BGN 170.034 million (€86.8 million), while the 2024 goal of BGN 188.701 million (€96.3 million) was not reached either, with actual revenues at BGN 182.640 million (€93.2 million).
Critics, including Ivaylo Mirchev of “Yes, Bulgaria” (party of WCC-DB) accuse the concession of being politically motivated, suggesting that it benefits DPS-New Beginning and the network surrounding Delyan Peevski. Mirchev noted that Peevski’s mother, Irena Krasteva, previously served as director of BST from 2002 to 2005, raising concerns about conflicts of interest and favoritism. Proposals for a parliamentary commission to investigate potential misconduct were reportedly blocked by affiliated MPs from GERB.
The move represents a significant restructuring of Bulgaria’s lottery system, transferring a state-controlled monopoly into private hands for a period of at least 15 years, with substantial financial and political implications.
The post State Lottery in Bulgaria Set for Privatisation appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Amusnet
Connecting Business and Diplomacy: Amusnet Supports BBLF’s Annual Meeting of the Diplomatic Corps
Amusnet has supported the 10th Annual Meeting between the Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum (BBLF) and the Diplomatic Corps, reaffirming its commitment to initiatives that foster dialogue, responsible business and Bulgaria’s long-term economic development.
Held at InterContinental Sofia, this year’s high-level forum brought together ambassadors, senior government officials and executives from leading Bulgarian and international companies under the theme “Bulgaria: Prospects for Rapid Economic Transformation”. The discussions explored the country’s potential to accelerate economic growth through innovation, digitalisation, strategic investments and stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors.
As a long-standing partner of the Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum, Amusnet continues to support initiatives that create meaningful dialogue around the future of Bulgaria’s economy and business environment. The annual meeting serves as one of the country’s most important platforms for exchanging ideas between the diplomatic community, institutional leaders and the business sector.
“Supporting initiatives that encourage collaboration and forward-looking dialogue is part of our commitment to responsible business. We believe that sustainable economic growth is driven by strong partnerships and a shared vision for the future,” said Ivo Georgiev, CEO of Amusnet.
This year’s forum focused on topics including Bulgaria’s investment attractiveness, technological advancement, talent development and the opportunities created by closer cooperation between business, government and international partners. The event once again highlighted the importance of building an environment that encourages competitiveness and sustainable growth.
For Amusnet, supporting the BBLF Annual Meeting reflects the company’s broader commitment to contributing to Bulgaria’s business ecosystem beyond its core operations. As one of the country’s leading software companies, Amusnet continues to stand behind initiatives that promote responsible leadership and long-term economic progress.
The partnership further strengthens Amusnet’s collaboration with BBLF and underscores the company’s belief that sustainable growth is achieved through dialogue, shared expertise and collective action.
The post Connecting Business and Diplomacy: Amusnet Supports BBLF’s Annual Meeting of the Diplomatic Corps appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Amusnet
Amusnet Strengthens its Position Among Bulgaria’s Leading Employers in ICAP CRIF Ranking
Amusnet has once again been recognised among Bulgaria’s leading employers, securing a place in the prestigious ICAP CRIF “Leading Employers in Bulgaria 2026” ranking.
The company is ranked among the Top 500 private employers in Bulgaria, reaffirming its position as one of the country’s fastest-growing and most successful technology companies. According to the ranking, Amusnet has achieved an impressive 14.29% year-on-year workforce growth.
The recognition comes as a testament to Amusnet’s sustained business expansion, strong employer brand and continued investment in talent development. Over the past year, the company has expanded its teams across multiple functions, supporting the growing demand for its gaming products and technology solutions in regulated markets worldwide.
Beyond its workforce growth, the ranking highlights Amusnet’s outstanding business performance, reflecting the strength of its business model, operational excellence and long-term strategic vision.
The annual ICAP CRIF “Leading Employers in Bulgaria” publication recognises the country’s largest private-sector employers based on official workforce data and serves as one of the most respected benchmarks for business performance and employment contribution in Bulgaria.
Being included among Bulgaria’s leading employers underscores Amusnet’s commitment to creating a dynamic and inspiring workplace where collaboration, and professional growth thrive. The company continues to attract highly skilled talent while fostering a culture that empowers employees to develop their talent.
As Amusnet continues its international expansion, this recognition further validates the company’s role as a key contributor to Bulgaria’s technology ecosystem and one of the country’s most influential employers.
The post Amusnet Strengthens its Position Among Bulgaria’s Leading Employers in ICAP CRIF Ranking appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Balkans
Kiron Interactive rolls out Fans World Cup with MaxBet Serbia
The football-themed virtual sports title is built on Kiron’s GOAL Premier engine and adds new betting markets to MaxBet’s Serbia offering.
Kiron Interactive has launched its Fans World Cup virtual football game with MaxBet Serbia, expanding its footprint in the country’s regulated market.
The title is built on Kiron’s GOAL Premier engine and features short-format virtual matches themed around international football. Kiron said the product includes broadcast-style visuals and a range of betting markets.
Steven Spartinos, Co-CEO of Kiron Interactive, said: “Football continues to be the most popular sport across Europe, and Fans World Cup was developed to capture the passion and excitement of the World Cup currently taking place in the USA. We are delighted to see the game launch with MaxBet Serbia, a valued partner that shares our commitment to delivering high quality entertainment . This launch represents another important step in expanding the reach of our proprietary games portfolio across key regulated markets.”
Zeljka Jevic, Virtual Games Manager at MaxBet added: “We are always looking for innovative content that resonates with our players and strengthens our offering. Fans World Cup delivers a fresh take on virtual football, combining high quality visuals and a format that reflects the excitement of the international competition. This launch reinforces our successful partnership with Kiron and our shared commitment to delivering premium entertainment experiences to our players.”
Kiron said Fans World Cup offers football betting markets including full time result, correct score, goalscorers and card outcomes. The supplier framed the MaxBet rollout as part of its wider strategy to grow distribution of proprietary virtual sports content through operator partnerships in regulated markets.
The post Kiron Interactive rolls out Fans World Cup with MaxBet Serbia appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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