Bulgaria at war on ticket rubbing

[[MC]Ronin[MC]]

Bulgaria at war on ticket rubbing

EU's poorest move to ban private lotteries and put industry under state control, AFP reports

 

 

 

Bulgarian lawmakers have taken a step toward banning private lotteries and putting the industry under state control, AFP reports, informing of the accusations against the gambling boss - Vasil Bozhkov, "one of the most powerful businessmen in the country" - for organized crime.

The amendments to the Gambling Bill passed by Parliament at first reading sti[CENSORED]te that the state-owned Bulgarian Sports Totalizer will be the only operator that can organize lottery games, inform the agency and continue:

"Bulgarian lawmakers want to generate money to fund sports and limit the sale of lottery tickets, which can even be bought at Bulgarian grocery stores."

3 million people admit to playing gambling in our country

The agency cites the words of MP Valery Simeonov, who proposed the changes, saying that the lottery's turnover is huge - over BGN 600 million (300 million euros, 330 million dollars).

"This move was followed by an investigation into alleged tax evasion by the two largest private lottery companies in Bulgaria, which shows that a loophole was used in the legislation to avoid paying over BGN 210 million in state lottery fees," it says the agency.

She further describes the search of the offices of the two companies owned by Vasil Bozhkov and his home. The arrest of 16 people, including eight members of the Gambling Regulatory Commission, was also reported.

For a year the Bulgarians gave BGN 1 billion for coupons
"Vasil Bozhkov was indicted in absentia on 7 charges, including for being the leader of an organized criminal group, for extortion and for attempting to bribe an official," quoted AFP quoted Chief Prosecutor Ivan Geshev as saying.

"Geshev called Bozhkov an oligarch and added that he had" fled Bulgaria "and would be wanted with a European arrest warrant," the publication added.

AFP also quoted a statement from Bozhkov's Nove Holding, saying the shares and accusations were "aimed at taking legitimate business by force."

"Bulgaria has long been considering better regulation for the lucrative sector, as in recent years thousands of its citizens have been covered by a ticketing obsession. Observers raised concerns about the dangers of widespread gambling addiction in the poorest EU Member State, especially among young people, France News Agency concludes