Bulgaria bans gambling ads; Romania has diluted laws and press concerns over industry influence.
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The Bulgarian parliament unanimously passed a law completely banning advertising for gambling across all mass media, while Romania has only modified its legislation to a diluted form that remains in the Chamber of Deputies. The Bulgarian law also prohibits opening casinos in towns with fewer than 10,000 residents. Despite public support, national television stations and online media groups opposed the ban because they rely heavily on gambling advertisements; some private TV stations report that these ads account for 20-30% of their advertising revenue. The article discusses the risks associated with media dependence on gambling money and contrasts this with the situation in Romania, where journalists from Gazeta Sporturilor and Libertatea left or were fired after accusing Ringier management of editorial interference regarding betting articles.
The Bulgarian law was proposed by GERB (PPE) and DPS (Renew Europe). Gambling businesses flourished in Bulgaria since 2015, reaching annual revenues of 700 million euros for private lotteries, but the business of Vasil Bozhkov collapsed in 2020 due to tax evasion allegations. This created a niche for smaller online operators whose advertising revenue grew significantly and became the largest source of income for Bulgarian mass media.
Despite public opinion favoring the ban, major Bulgarian TV stations argue that such legislation threatens media independence and financial sustainability. Some commentators suggest the ban might be politically motivated to control media outlets. Conversely, some journalists support the new law, arguing that private broadcasters should not justify gambling presence on public interest grounds. Stilian Shishkov, a Bulgarian shareholder in Gazeta Sporturilor, believes technological restrictions are impossible and warns that the ban could disadvantage local companies globally.
In Romania, legislation enacted in April this year restricted slot machines outside towns with fewer than 15,000 residents, but betting halls remain open if they offer betting services. A previous proposal to completely ban gambling ads online was watered down by senators. The International Press Institute (IPI) report highlighted the influence of the Romanian betting industry on media, citing instances where journalists at Gazeta Sporturilor and Libertatea were dismissed after reporting pressure from Ringier management regarding gambling coverage.
