The Russian Finance Ministry has asked President Vladimir Putin to consider lifting a long-running ban on online casinos, Kommersant reported on Tuesday, citing sources. The proposal is reportedly being pitched as a way to draw gamblers out of the shadow market and boost budget revenue, with strict government controls intended to curb addiction.
According to two Kommersant sources, the proposal was set out in a letter from Finance Minister Anton Siluanov. The ministry suggested creating a single state-designated operator to oversee online casinos, paying a monthly tax of at least 30% of revenue after winnings.
It estimated the federal budget could gain around 100 billion rubles ($1.3 billion) a year if the idea is backed, the paper said.
The proposed framework would require users to be at least 21 and route all bets through a unified accounting system, similar to that used by bookmakers. The plan also envisages giving the operator and the accounting hub powers to introduce measures aimed at preventing gambling addiction.
Russia currently allows offline casino gambling in a handful of designated zones across the country – none of which are in Moscow Region – while online casinos remain illegal.
However, the annual turnover of Russia’s illegal online gambling sector is estimated at more than 3 trillion rubles ($39 billion), accounting for 20-40% of the market.
The legal betting market is valued by the Finance Ministry at 1.7 trillion rubles ($22 billion).
Supporters of the initiative argue that regulation could help curb the risks of gambling addiction. Vasily Riy, the executive director of the Association for the Protection of the Rights of Gambling and Lottery Participants, said the plan would require tight controls on access, individual player risk profiles, and limits on bet sizes and the amount of time users can spend on online casino sites.
Nikolay Novichkov, a lawmaker from the left-leaning A Just Russia party, has warned that online casinos could draw in pensioners and low-income households who could end up losing their savings.
Senior Russian Orthodox Church official Vachtang Kipshidze also pushed back, saying legalization could worsen addiction, undermine family welfare, and negatively affect demographics.