Gambling in Russia: What is important for a beginner to know?

Before you dive into the casino atmosphere, it is important to know the legal aspects.

Casino guests are citizens who have reached the age of 18. Here is the evidence: Article on the consultant.ru website.

Gambling in Russia is regulated by Federal Law No. 244-FZ "On state regulation of activities related to the organization and conduct of gambling".

Details here: Article on the consultant.ru website.

Key points of the legislation:

• You can play casinos and place bets on the territory of the Russian Federation only in specially designated places - gambling zones. There are five of them in Russia. Each of them is issued a license to operate. The Krasnaya Polyana gambling zone is included in the list of officially permitted ones.

Consequences: casinos operating illegally are closed. Players visiting such establishments formally participate in illegal activities, which threatens administrative liability.

• Ban on organizing online casinos and online betting.

Any sites offering to play roulette, slots, card games or place sports bets via the Internet on the territory of Russia (if they are not based and licensed in the gambling zones of the Russian Federation and do not use their infrastructure legally) are illegal.

Consequences: access to such sites is blocked by Roskomnadzor. The organizers are subject to criminal liability. And players face a fine of up to 1,000 rubles at best, and the risk of losing money at worst. Illegal operators do not guarantee the security of payments and your data.

• Bottom line: casinos and slot machines are legal only in 5 special zones. Everything else is illegal. *

• Sports betting can only be done with bookmakers with a Russian license (Central Bank of the Russian Federation) - through their official websites/apps or at their betting shops.
• Online casinos are completely prohibited in Russia. Websites offering such games operate illegally. Playing there is risky and illegal.

Violating these rules (organizing games or participating in them outside of permitted places) will result in fines, and the organizers will face criminal liability.