Vladimir Putin has signed legislation requiring gambling operators to block access to anyone listed on a federal self-exclusion registry. The law takes effect on 1 September. The State Duma passed the bill earlier this month; the Federation Council approved it shortly after.
The system will run through the Gosuslugi public services portal. Players can add themselves to the registry. Casinos, bookmakers and gaming hall operators must verify visitor documents before allowing them to place bets. Staff who admit a registered individual face fines of up to $640; the company faces up to $6,400 per violation.
The rules apply to land-based venues and online bookmakers. Web casinos remain illegal in Russia; only bookmakers hold licences. Operator sites must display information about the registry and direct links to the relevant portal section. Land-based venues must post notices about the right to self-exclude.
The law responds to rising gambling addiction. Government data suggest up to 12% of the adult population, or 13 million people, may suffer from it. The Serbsky National Medical Research Centre for Psychiatry and Narcology, working with the Russian Society of Psychiatrists, is preparing unified clinical guidelines for treating pathological gambling. The document will be presented in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile the sector continues to expand. Casinos in the designated gambling zones reported a 7% rise in visitor numbers in the first half of the year. Casino Shambala in Sochi will complete its second expansion phase this autumn, opening two hotels with 315 rooms, a spa, a nightclub, a sports arena and a conference hall.
