Matviyenko calls for accelerated legislative process on anti-gambling laws
In Russia, a push for stricter gambling regulations is gaining momentum, with support from the parliament and the Presidential Administration. The Chairperson of the Federation Council, Valentina Matviyenko, has called for decisive action on bills aimed at limiting the spread of gambling, particularly online gambling and sports betting.
The specific provisions of the bills are yet to be disclosed, but Senator Alexander Turchinsky has emphasised that casinos are a key target in the proposed restrictions. The measures also aim to prevent "quick games," which are sports bets disguised as bookmakers but mechanically identical to slot machines or online casinos. Additionally, the proposed restrictions ban bets with credit cards and the participation of incapacitated individuals in gambling.
However, the advancement of these gambling restrictions initiatives at the government level has been blocked, with Senator Turchinsky pointing out that the process is being delayed under formal pretexts. A group of senators prepared three bills a year ago that proposed strict restrictions on the gambling industry, but the formal pretexts remain unclear.
Valentina Matviyenko has instructed Vice-Speaker Nikolai Zhuralyov and the head of the budget committee, Anatoly Artamonov, to conduct necessary consultations with the Ministry of Finance to remove obstacles and adopt the legislative package during the autumn session.
The current gambling landscape in Russia maintains a highly restrictive approach, with online gambling and sports betting banned since 2006, and land-based casinos confined to four designated zones. Despite some discussions about liberalising online gambling, particularly online poker, there has been little significant progress in regulatory reform up to 2024.
Enforcement relies heavily on Roskomnadzor, which maintains blacklists of prohibited online gambling sites and requires ISPs to block them. However, obstacles persist, such as widespread use of VPNs and cryptocurrencies by players to bypass restrictions, making control and regulation difficult.
The persistence of an underground gambling market poses ongoing risks for addiction among vulnerable groups, which may complicate governmental efforts. Regarding gambling addiction and vulnerable populations, the search results do not provide explicit detail on specific government measures aimed at prevention or treatment. Nevertheless, the strict regulatory approach and limitations to gambling venues could be interpreted as preventive measures to limit exposure and access.
It remains unclear whether the proposed gambling restrictions initiatives have the support of the gambling industry or other stakeholders. Similarly, it is not specified whether there is any opposition to the proposed restrictions from these parties.
[1] Russian Gambling Laws and Regulations [3] Russia's Gambling Industry [5] Russia's Underground Gambling Market
- What are the current provisions of the bills aimed at limiting the spread of gambling, particularly online gambling and sports betting, in Russia?
- In response to the push for stricter gambling regulations, Senator Alexander Turchinsky has emphasized that casinos, including online ones, are a key target in the proposed restrictions.
- While Senator Turchinsky has pointed out that the process of adopting the legislative package to restrict gambling is being delayed under formal pretexts, Valentina Matviyenko has instructed specific officials to conduct necessary consultations to remove these obstacles.
- Despite the ongoing debates about liberalising online gambling, such as online poker, in Russia and the advancement of some gambling restrictions initiatives, the enforcement remains a challenge due to the widespread use of VPNs and cryptocurrencies by players to bypass restrictions, complicating control and regulation.
