Russia Online Casino Legalization: Finance Ministry Studies a Bookmaker-Style Model (Oct. 23)
Updated on October 23, 2026.
Russia online casino legalization is back on the table. Deputy Finance Minister Ivan Chebeskov said Friday, Oct. 23, that his ministry is studying how to regulate online casinos the same way Russia regulates bookmakers, TASS reported. He gave no deadline, and online casinos remain illegal in Russia for now.
Quick summary
- Russia’s Finance Ministry is studying a legal model for online casinos based on the rules for bookmakers, Chebeskov said on Oct. 23.
- He spoke on the sidelines of the Verona Eurasian Economic Forum, held in Istanbul, according to Life.ru.
- No decision, bill or timeline has been announced.
- A January proposal, reported by Kommersant, called for a single operator appointed by the president, a tax of at least 30% and a minimum age of 21.
- Today, only bookmakers and totalizators can legally take bets online in Russia. Online poker isn’t mentioned in any of the reports.
What the Finance Ministry said on Oct. 23
Chebeskov said the ministry is weighing its options. “Just as we regulate bookmakers, we are now studying all these options,” he said, according to TASS, as quoted by the Russian outlet VZGLYAD. He added that many countries legalize online casinos, which means regulating them.
He also said the fight against advertising for illegal casinos has to continue, because those sites pose serious risks to Russians. He did not set terms or a date for any change, according to Life.ru.
The comments follow a gambling industry forum in early October. At the AIS-2026 forum, Chebeskov said the shadow online casino sector is now comparable in size to Russia’s legal betting market. “International practice shows several approaches. The first is prohibition and control, the second is legalization,” he said, according to Sports.ru. “We have reached a fork and need to decide which path to take.”
The January proposal: one operator, a 30% tax and a 21+ age limit
The idea first went public in January. On Jan. 27, Kommersant reported that Finance Minister Anton Siluanov had asked President Vladimir Putin to consider legalizing online casinos under strict conditions. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the proposal a day later, but said it was too early to judge its chances.
Provision | January proposal (according to Kommersant) |
|---|---|
Operator | A single operator, appointed by presidential order on the government's proposal |
Payments | Bets routed through the central system already used by licensed bookmakers |
Tax | At least 30% of revenue after winnings are paid |
Minimum age | 21 |
Expected budget revenue | About 100 billion rubles a year |
Size of the illegal market | More than 3 trillion rubles a year, with about 100 online casinos |
Public opinion leans the other way. In a VTsIOM poll reported by Vedomosti in March, 55% of Russians said they did not support legalizing online casinos.
Background and what comes next
Russia has limited gambling for years. Since 2009, land-based casinos have been allowed only in special gambling zones, and online, only bookmakers and totalizators can operate legally. Online casinos, and online poker with them, have stayed outside the law.
This year, Russia tightened that ban. According to Vedomosti:
- June 26: Putin signed a law to block illegal gambling sites faster. The tax service now has two working days, down from five, to add a site to the registry of banned sites. The law took effect Sept. 1.
- Sept. 1: Russians can now file a request to ban themselves from gambling. The request can’t be withdrawn, and the ban can only be lifted after at least one year.
- Sept. 1: A Health Ministry order now classifies gambling addiction alongside chemical dependencies such as alcoholism.
Vedomosti also cited estimates that about 9 million people, or more than 6% of the population, regularly play at online casinos or place bets, and that about 150,000 may have a severe gambling addiction with large debts.
What comes next is still open. The ministry is choosing between a tighter ban and a licensed market. Oleg Davydov, executive director of the bookmakers’ self-regulatory body First SRO, said at the October forum that he would not expect a decision before the end of the year, according to Sports.ru. Any legal market would need a law, and the reports so far describe online casinos only. None of them says whether poker would be included.
What it means for players
If you play from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia or Ireland, nothing changes for you. A legal Russian market, if it comes, would be built around a single domestic operator and Russia’s own payment system, according to the January proposal.
If you are in Russia, the law hasn’t changed: online casinos are still banned, and illegal sites are now blocked faster. A proposal is not a law, so wait for an official text before you assume anything has changed. This article is for information only and is not legal advice.
The rules where you live decide where you can play. See our country guides for the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and Ireland. If online poker is open to you, compare the rooms, rakeback and bonuses in our list of the best online poker sites.
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Frequently asked questions
Are online casinos legal in Russia?
No. Online casinos are banned in Russia. Under current law, only bookmakers and totalizators can legally take bets online.
Is Russia going to legalize online casinos?
Not yet. On Oct. 23, 2026, Deputy Finance Minister Ivan Chebeskov said the ministry is studying a model based on bookmaker regulation. He gave no deadline, and no bill has been filed.
What would legal online casinos in Russia look like?
According to Kommersant, the January proposal called for a single operator appointed by the president, bets routed through a central payment system, a tax of at least 30% of revenue after winnings, and a minimum age of 21.
Would online poker be legal in Russia too?
The reports don't mention poker. For now, online poker isn't a legal product in Russia, because only bookmakers and totalizators can operate online.
Sources
- Vedomosti: Russia’s Finance Ministry is considering legalizing online casinos
- VZGLYAD (TASS): Finance Ministry begins studying online casino legalization
- Life.ru: Finance Ministry studies online casino legalization on the bookmaker model
- Kommersant: Finance Ministry proposes legalizing online casinos in Russia
- Sports.ru: Chebeskov says there are two paths for online casinos, ban or legalize
Play responsibly. 18+ only, and check the legal age where you live.
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