How the Bulgarian market is prospering

Bulgaria is proving to be one of the hottest markets worldwide for suppliers to move into. With a predicted growth pattern increasing on an exponential scale, we spoke with Altenar’s Senior Account Manager, Manos Mytilinaios, about how the region is proving to be an attractive proposition and what players are looking for.

The Bulgarian market is one of the most exciting worldwide. Dozens of providers have flocked to the Balkans region in the past 12 months, attracted by smoother regulatory processes. Bulgaria in particular promises an accessible and clear regulatory framework imposed by the State Commission on Gambling (SCG), along with a fair tax regime and growing market potential. While recent changes have been announced, notably increases to licence fees and tax requirements, Bulgaria remains an appealing market for operators.

Altenar is building an ever-increasing client base within Bulgaria, with many partnerships strengthening our reputation in the region. We have been live in Bulgaria for nine years now, consistently developing the quality of our products and ensuring we remain an attractive prospect for operators.

Within the Bulgarian market, we provide a fully managed sportsbook solution covering both software and services, to deliver a high-calibre sports betting experience. This goes hand-in-hand with 24/7 risk management, trading and business support services and a dedicated account manager.

Overall, the region itself has seen consistent growth in recent years, and this trend is expected to continue over the course of the next 12 months and beyond. The country is expected to be a true trendsetter for the Balkans up until 2028, based on key growth metrics such as overall turnover and GGR. The market is expanding exponentially, and there is no doubt that plenty more in the region, such as Romania, will look to replicate that success.

Projections of market value are north of €850m by 2026 and it is reasonable to conclude that the key to this success has been the extensive trust in the market between bettors and sportsbooks.

Assuming that Bulgaria’s neighbours can replicate the brand value, it is undoubtedly a territory to keep a close eye on and I don’t expect the predictions to show any signs of a decrease in the months ahead. From a sports betting perspective, more and more industry leaders are continuing to immerse themselves within the environment, with major investment in place to ensure that Bulgaria can secure a leading position alongside some of Europe’s biggest markets in the next few years.

As it stands, the region’s economic power is just beginning to grow. Given time, the increases in this area will see Bulgaria become a major hub for sportsbooks and iGaming, as players enter an environment that can now be regarded as one of the world’s most exciting.

To ensure that Altenar’s product stands out, we need to constantly monitor our offering and what players are enjoying. Sports such as e-football, tennis and table tennis are rapidly becoming more and more popular in the region within live betting, where interaction is fast for the users. The user base in Bulgaria is experienced and we offer diverse features such early payout, 0% margin/enhanced odds and bore draw. Research remains vital to ensure we remain a market leader, innovating our full end-to-end solution, establishing new partnerships and meeting the needs of current operators and clients.

The potential in Bulgaria has no ceiling – and we are looking forward to being part of that journey.