The turnover of Bulgaria's gambling business has been cut in half since the beginning of 2009, the industry association says.

The reduction in turnover was directly affecting sales of gaming and gambling equipment, with sales of slot machines the worst-hit, Ivan Tsankarski, board member of Casino Technologies, said on October 5 2009.

The industry was in serious trouble, according to sector players attending a second annual Balkan Entertainment and Gaming Expo, being held in Sofia until October 8, and bringing together gaming industry vendors, operators and manufacturers.

Sales of gaming equipment had decreased by more than 60 per cent, according to producer Fortex New, without giving precise figures.

The sector paid 112 million leva in taxes in 2008.

A total of 22 casinos are registered in Bulgaria along with 23 bingo halls and 975 gambling machines halls. Sixty halls have closed since January 2009 because their licences expired, and the same number suspended operations.

While the crisis emptied consumers' pockets and tightened access to funding, many companies went under.

Apart from there being fewer customers, the sector is suffering a staff shortfall as a growing number of gaming and gambling personnel join criminal groups.

While fiscal control is high at slot machines, preventing scams, online betting and games are posing major threats as they are difficult to track.

Five companies import gaming equipment in Bulgaria, said one of the importers, Microintellect. Casino Technology and EGT are the major casino outfit manufacturers commanding 80 per cent of the market with a five per cent slice going to Fortex New.

The crisis has spurred second-hand and rented gaming equipment and pirate software, mainly from China, dealing another blow to the industry.

Source: Devnik.bg