Casinos and betting banned: how Russians can self-exclude from gambling
Russia has four active gambling zones where such activities are legally permitted.
Residents of Russia will be able to set a self-ban on participation in gambling starting September 1, 2026. This was announced by Amir Khamitov, deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Sports.
«The law on self-ban for participation in gambling comes into force in Russia from September 1. This is an important social step. For the first time, the state is giving citizens a simple and legal tool to protect themselves from gambling addiction, without waiting for the problem to lead to serious consequences,» TASS quotes the deputy as saying.
According to the law, the application to refuse participation in gambling can be submitted through the Gosuslugi website. The self-ban will be in effect for one year, but it can be lifted earlier upon request.
In case of a self-ban, bookmakers, totalizators, and other gambling organizers will not be able to accept bets, issue gambling establishment exchange tokens, conclude risk-based agreements on winnings, transfer funds to such citizens, or send them advertising.
Currently, there are four operating gambling zones in Russia where the gambling business is officially permitted — in Kaliningrad Oblast, as well as in Altai, Primorsky, and Krasnodar Krais. Another gambling zone in Crimea has not yet been launched.
