Nearly 4,000 Hospitalized Patients Allegedly Found Gambling at Casinos Amid Healthcare Fraud Probe
Allegations of Patients Gambling While Hospitalized
The tax authorities in Bulgaria have uncovered a major healthcare fraud case involving nearly 4,000 individuals who were registered as hospital patients but were actually found visiting casinos during their supposed treatment periods.
Discrepancies in Hospitalization Records
The National Revenue Service (NAP) revealed that many hospital stays claimed by these patients were either fabricated or only partially completed. Local media report that in just the first half of 2025, over 22,000 casino visits were logged by people officially recorded as being hospitalized at the same time.
In response, the NAP has launched formal investigations and issued warnings that any detected irregularities will lead to the confiscation of funds. Hospitals involved will be required to reimburse the National Health Insurance Fund accordingly.
Bulgarian Healthcare and Insurance Contributions
Bulgaria’s healthcare system operates on a model where citizens pay small monthly fees granting them access to various medical services, including hospital care, often at little to no cost to the patients when hospitalized.
Ongoing Concerns Over Fraud and Corruption
This fraud is part of a wider pattern involving fraudulent hospitalizations used by some healthcare staff for personal gain. Moreover, there are suspicions of systemic corruption at the executive level, with allegations that political influence and favoritism have compromised the integrity of the system.
The National Healthcare Insurance Fund has stated that it cannot provide further comments until the formal investigation into these matters is concluded.
