Bulgarian President Rumen Radev has opted to not veto the proposed amendments to the Gambling Law, which embrace a ban on playing commercials within the media.
President Radev had beforehand indicated that he was contemplating the adjustments to the Gambling Law and was awaiting enter from his advisors earlier than making a last determination.
Despite objections from media shops, playing operators, sports activities golf equipment, and different companies between the readings, the prohibition on playing commercials within the media was accredited by a big majority of deputies in the course of the last session of the forty ninth National Assembly. Some stakeholders argued that public dialogue ought to precede the adoption of such a big measure.
The initiative for these amendments got here from GERB and DPS and was launched unexpectedly in the course of the last days of the forty ninth National Assembly by Yordan Tsonev (DPS) and Temenuzka Petkova (GERB). The invoice quickly moved by way of the legislative course of, passing its first studying within the funds committee and subsequently receiving approval within the plenary session. An extraordinary assembly of the Committee on Budget and Finance was convened to expedite the voting on the amendments earlier than deputies started their pre-election recess.
Controversial Ban on Gambling Ads
The new amendments, which embrace a complete ban on playing commercials within the media, have sparked controversy. Various stakeholders have expressed their considerations and objections. Media shops, playing operators, sports activities golf equipment, and different companies affected by the regulation have argued towards the ban, suggesting {that a} public dialogue ought to precede such a big legislative change. However, regardless of these objections, the amendments had been handed with a considerable majority.
President Radev’s determination to not veto the amendments has finalized the legislative course of, bringing about vital adjustments to the Gambling Law in Bulgaria The new prohibition on playing commercials within the media marks a considerable shift within the regulatory panorama for playing within the nation. Despite the objections and requires public debate, the amendments have been accredited and can quickly come into impact.
Source: “Bulgarian President Approves Gambling Law Amendments”. European Gaming. May 17, 2024.