Author:

Abstract:

The gambling industry in Bulgaria, the EU, and the world is undergoing constant progress and change in the era of digitalization, globalization, and technological advances through mobile applications, blockchain and crypto assets, as well as artificial intelligence. The traditional model of gambling regulation through mandatory legislation (referred to in doctrine as “hard law”) has its advantages, but it is increasingly proving its limitations because it lags behind social, ethical, and technological advances and is constantly forced to catch up, which is not always possible. The Gambling Act in Bulgaria, especially after the changes in 2020 and the new advertising restrictions from 2024, is an example of a traditional hard law approach to the legal regulation of the gambling industry, which attempts to cover the entire spectrum of gambling services. However, with the latest amendments and additions to the Gambling Act in Bulgaria (amended and supplemented, State Gazette No. 49 of June 17, 2025), this is not the case, and some new technologies and types of gambling services, such as crypto casinos, social casino games, virtual items, tokens/NFTs, crypto assets, and others. In these “gray areas” of legal regulation, the role of soft law instruments such as codes, guidelines, standards, memoranda, green papers, and best practices can be key. This publication aims to examine and demonstrate that, despite the dominant role of hard law through the Bulgarian Gambling Act, the integration of soft law instruments, especially with regard to new technologies and payment models, is not only possible but also necessary for effective, adaptive, and predictable regulation of the gambling industry.

Keywords:

JEL:

К 20, К 23, К 29

Pages:

20

Article: