Bulgarian Gambling Watchdog Wins 1st Case against Mobile Operator

Business | March 21, 2012, Wednesday // 15:46|  views

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Bulgaria's State Commission on Gambling has won its first case against a mobile operator that organized a Q&A game played via text messages.

Cosmo Bulgaria Mobile (Globul) will be fined with BGN 50 000 for the illegally organized "The Big Cash" game and for tax evasion to the tune of BGN 1.3 M, according to a statement of the watchdog.

Wednesday's decision of the Administrative Court Sofia City confirms the penalty statement issued by the gambling watchdog on May 12, 2010 to Cosmo Bulgaria Mobile.

Globul is expected to appeal the decision at a higher instance.

"The Big Cash" was organized by Cosmo Bulgaria Mobile in the period September-December 2009.

In the course of the game, subscribers of the three mobile operators, Mtel, Globul and Vivacom, sent over 14.6 million short text messages for which they paid over BGN 17.5 M.

The price of one SMS was BGN 1.20, VAT excluded.

Cosmo Bulgaria Mobile, however, failed to obtain a permit for the game, as required by the Gambling Act, and now owes fees of BGN 15 000 for the reviewing of its claim and of BGN 20 000 for the issuing of the license.

The company will also have to pay close to BGN 1.3 M in corporate taxes.

According to the State Commission on Gambling, the state budget was deprived of over BGN 1.32 M through activities of the mobile operator.

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Tags: gambling, Gambling Act, mobile operator, Globul, Administrative Court Sofia City, tax evasion

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