Lawmakers in Russia have advanced a proposal that expands the power of authorities to block illegal online casinos more quickly. The measure gained strength after initial approval in the State Duma, the country’s main legislative body.
During a recent session, parliamentarians approved the first reading of a bill that reduces the time needed to take illegal websites offline. Currently, the process faces bureaucratic obstacles that, according to authorities, limit the effectiveness of the actions.
Although online casinos are banned in Russia, the Ministry of Finance is considering changes to the current policy. The department is considering allowing regulated operations and, consequently, starting taxation of these services. However, until there is a definition, the focus remains on combating illegal platforms.
Como funciona o bloqueio de sites dos cassinos ilegais na Rússia
Today, the process involves several steps and different bodies. First, the Unified Gambling Regulatory Body notifies the Federal Tax Service. Then the tax body conducts checks before including the site on an illegal list.
This flow, despite being structured, generates delays. As a result, illegal platforms remain active for longer. Furthermore, authorities claim that operators exploit these loopholes to continue offering services in the country.
To face this scenario, the new project proposes to simplify the procedure. The main change reduces the analysis period from around five days to just 48 hours. In this way, the government intends to react with greater agility.
Project seeks agility, but faces criticism
Sergei Altukhov, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Economic Policy, commented on the progress of the proposal. He said: “We hope to finalize the bill before the second reading.”
Following this, Altukhov reinforced cooperation between government bodies, and declared: “We are working with the Ministry of Finance and other agencies in this regard. We are looking for faster options to help block online casinos. As a rule, these sites currently belong to operators from countries that are not friendly to Russia.”
Legal experts recognize the relevance of the initiative, but point out limitations. Lawyer Stalina Gurevich assessed: “Considering the current speed at which gambling websites emerge, significantly reducing the time needed to block them is essential.”
Still, she expressed caution about the practical effects. Gurevich stated: “However, I am not sure whether this will significantly reduce the number of visitors to online casinos, especially among young people.”
According to the lawyer, younger users dominate digital tools. Therefore, they can bypass blockages with relative ease. “They generally know how to access blocked websites on the internet. These proposals need to be improved.”
In addition to the technical debate, the proposal also faces institutional resistance. Representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church, psychiatric experts and opposition leaders criticize the plan under discussion.
