URGENT UPDATE: LiveScore Malta Limited has just announced its decision to withdraw the **LiveScore Bet** brand from **Bulgaria**, with operations formally set to cease by the end of **2025**. This critical move comes in light of soaring taxes in the **UK** and increasing regulatory uncertainty across the region, significantly impacting the gambling sector.
The decision follows the **UK government’s** recent **2025 Autumn Budget**, which raised both the **Remote Gaming Duty** and **General Betting Duty**, prompting gambling companies to reevaluate their strategies. LiveScore’s exit underscores a broader trend as operators grapple with financial pressures and fluctuating regulations in Europe.
According to LiveScore’s statement, the withdrawal is a strategic response aimed at maintaining the company’s agility and resilience in a shifting market. The firm indicated that ongoing uncertainty in Bulgaria’s regulatory landscape, including potential future tax increases, played a crucial role in their decision.
“LiveScore Malta Limited has today confirmed the withdrawal of its LiveScore Bet brand from Bulgaria,” the company stated. “The exit decision considers the uncertainty in Bulgaria’s own regulatory landscape, with a potential tax rise on the horizon to reduce the national budget deficit.”
As part of this transition, all affected employees have been informed and are now undergoing a confidential consultation process. Additionally, LiveScore Bet customers in Bulgaria will be notified in the coming days.
The situation is exacerbated by Bulgaria’s forthcoming **40% online casino tax**, set to be implemented in **April 2026**, alongside a separate tax hike for sports betting planned for the following year. These drastic measures have prompted some operators to consider selling customer databases or entire brands, while others adopt a cautious wait-and-see approach.
Concerns regarding the impact on employment and safer gambling practices have been voiced by industry leaders. **Grainne Hurst**, chief executive of the **Betting and Gaming Council**, remarked, “Massive tax increases for online betting and gaming announced in the Budget make them among the highest in the world. This is a devastating hammer blow to tens of thousands of people working in the industry across the UK, and millions of customers who enjoy a bet.”
In a parallel development, the gambling firm **evoke Plc** has initiated a formal review of its operational strategy due to the mounting pressures from tax hikes and planned shop closures affecting its major brands.
As the gambling landscape continues to evolve under the weight of regulatory changes and financial burdens, the exit of LiveScore Bet from Bulgaria marks a significant shift. Stakeholders and customers alike should remain vigilant for further updates as the situation develops.
Stay tuned for more breaking news on this urgent matter.
