Sun, Nov 22 2009

Party leader calls on Bulgaria to ban gambling

Tue, Oct 20 2009 13:59 CET byPetar Kostadinov 1442 Views 4 Comments
Party leader calls on Bulgaria to ban gambling

Ivan Kostov

Photo: Anelia Nikolova

Party leader calls on Bulgaria to ban gambling

Photo: Tsvetelina Nikolaeva

Ivan Kostov, leader of the right-wing Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria (DSB) called for a ban on gambling in Bulgaria, Bulgarian news agency Focus said on October 20 2009.

"Currently taxation on gambling in Bulgaria fails to contribute significant funds to the Budget while the damage gambling causes is huge," said Kostov, a former prime minister and former finance minister.

"People who lobbied to keep gambling free of excise duties lied that this would bring higher revenue to the Budget and that the state would get money in return. I support the idea of a complete ban on gambling in Bulgaria, because it doesn't bring revenue, causes damage and probably the only people who benefit from it are the gambling bosses," Kostov said.

On October 15 2009, the Government approved a plan to introduce identical tax rates for all games of chance. Thus, the state lottery and private fixed-odds sports betting bookmaker Eurofootball will pay 12 per cent instead of 10 per cent of their betting turnover.

According to Eurofootball, the increase will mean 30 million leva losses for the sector in 2010.

"A large section of gambling operators in Bulgaria are facing bankruptcy, while at the same time Bulgaria could increase revenue collection from online gambling games to 160 million leva annually if it introduces a swift and efficient regulatory framework," Eurofootball said in a statement on October 18 2009.

Comments

Anonymous Mikael/Sweden Tue, Oct 20 2009 21:55 CET
Inappropriate comment?

We have 4 casinos in Sweden owned by the state and casinos operated very professionally. Dom spend much money on helping those who end up in games depend only. and the fine-strict house rules they can advertise online casinos. State in Bulgaria seem to be lacking entirely control over how they are managed.

Casinos can of course start by not offering prostitutes to their visitors.

Anonymous Jon Mills Tue, Oct 20 2009 19:45 CET
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I applaud the sentiment, but it is a terrible idea.

Banning gambling has never stopped it in any nation that has done this - it simply drives it 'underground' and into the willing and waiting arms of the criminal element.

Anonymous Mikael/Sweden Tue, Oct 20 2009 17:19 CET
Inappropriate comment?

Good news. State and society benefit more if Balgaria and tourists spend their money locally in shops, coffee shops, handicrafts, etc., and thereby keep people in work, one that a game boss takes the money and the money abroad or buy expensive luxury goods imports which are not increasing employment in Bulgaria.

When I visited a casino in Sunny Beach casino values asked if I wanted to buy a prostitute for 110 Lv / h ... Shady casinos.

Anonymous Yay! Tue, Oct 20 2009 16:02 CET
Inappropriate comment?

This is great news for Bulgaria, in all ways possible. Casinos occupy some great spots in Sofia - they are so ugly and so are the people that run them.

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