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The Best Casino Online in Russia in 2024 | Top Real Money Russian Casinos

Are there any casinos online in Russia? Is online gambling legal in Russia? Can I play at offshore casino sites from Russia? All good questions and tough ones, too. Russian gambling regulation is complex. Land-based gambling happens in designated areas, while online casinos exist in certain forms only.

Read about the rules, taxation, and other intricacies of online gambling in Russia. Or find the safest brands listed below

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MostBet Casino
Website in Russian: Yes
Сайт на русском языке: Да
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4.9
★★★★★
★★★★★
Bonus:
125% up to $/€300
Fairspin Casino
Website in Russian: Yes
Сайт на русском языке: Да
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4.8
★★★★★
★★★★★
Bonus:
150% up to $/€100000
Weiss Casino
Website in Russian: Yes
Сайт на русском языке: Да
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4.8
★★★★★
★★★★★
Bonus:
100% up to $/€100
Kosmonaut Casino
Website in Russian: Yes
Сайт на русском языке: Да
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4.7
★★★★★
★★★★★
Bonus:
100% up to $/€496
Winz Casino
Website in Russian: Yes
Сайт на русском языке: Да
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4.7
★★★★★
★★★★★
Bonus:
Up to $5,000 in Wheel of Winz
Dunder Casino
Website in Russian: No
Сайт на русском языке: Нет
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4.7
★★★★★
★★★★★
Bonus:
100% up to $/€100
BitStarz Casino
Website in Russian: No
Сайт на русском языке: Нет
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4.5
★★★★★
★★★★★
Bonus:
100% up to $/€100
Mr Green Casino
Website in Russian: No
Сайт на русском языке: Нет
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4.3
★★★★★
★★★★★
Bonus:
100% up to $/€100
Bitsler Casino
Website in Russian: Yes
Сайт на русском языке: Да
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4.3
★★★★★
★★★★★
Bonus:
100% up to $/€700
PlayAmo Casino
Website in Russian: No
Сайт на русском языке: Нет
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4.1
★★★★★
★★★★★
Bonus:
100% up to $/€100
Guts Casino
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4.1
★★★★★
★★★★★
Bonus:
100% up to $/€100
Wild Tornado Casino
Website in Russian: No
Сайт на русском языке: Нет
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4.1
★★★★★
★★★★★
Bonus:
100% up to $/€100
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Online Casinos in Russia: A Comprehensive Guide

Playing online casinos in Russia can be a challenge due to the country's stringent laws. This guide provides you with all the information you need to know before playing. You will learn how to access the sites. How to make deposits. And more.

Key Facts

  • Online Gambling Laws: Online gambling is illegal in Russia. With only a few exceptions, such as sports betting.
  • VPN Usage: Due to restrictions, Russian casino players have to use VPNs. When using a VPN, you are safe from spying on your activities.
  • Cryptocurrency Transactions: Traditional credit cards are mostly banned for use in casinos. Cryptocurrencies make a good alternative.

How to Choose the Best Casino Online in Russia?

Trust our experts. In serving you the list of top brands, we undertook a serious evaluation process. Parts of our process include looking at the casino's reputation, as well as other important parameters. Among them are the customer support department, variety of games, and so much more. Of course, before anything else, a Russian casino player must learn about the gambling regulations in Russia. Which are thoroughly explained throughout this page. 

Need more info? Keep reading.

Is Gambling Legal in Russia?

Russian gambling regulation is complex, and not all forms of gambling are legal.

What Forms of Gambling Are Legal in Russia?

Russian legal gambling market comprises three sectors:

  1. state lotteries
  2. casino and electronic gambling machines
  3. online and offline bookmakers

All the other forms of online gambling are ILLEGAL.

Relevant legislation:

Federal law, December 29, 2006 No. 244-FZ2006 (amended on 04.08.2023)

Read this recent report to learn more about the gambling landscape in Russia.

Is Online Gambling Legal in Russia?

No. Online Gambling in Russia is ILLEGAL. The only LEGAL forms of online gambling are: 

  • Online sports betting
  • National lottery online.

Russia engages in IP blocking and blacklists websites. The latter includes European giants like Ladbrokes, Betfair and Unibet. More than 76K domains were blocked in 2018. Draft laws prescribe penalties for gambling on unlicensed websites and payment services alike. The rules apply to Russian citizens. The fines for individuals range from ₽2,000 to ₽2,500.

However, there’s no enforcement. What is more, many Russia-licensed online betting shops offer online casino games via their “shell” companies. If you click on a game on a sportsbook website, you’ll be redirected to their offshore counterpart. Such platforms will typically have international gambling licenses.

Is Land-Based Gambling Allowed in Russia

Yes, but with certain restrictions, as explained below. Brick-and-mortar gambling has been LEGAL since 1987.

“Special Gambling Zones” in Russia

Casino houses are allowed only in the defined gambling Zones:

  • Kaliningrad
  • Altai
  • Primorye
  • Krasnodar territory

The Crimean Peninsula should have been the first zone. But the political situation dragged the process.

Who Can Organize Gambling Activities in Russia?

First comes the state. Ministries organize lotteries via public companies and private distributors. Licensed private companies manage casinos and electronic gambling machines. These companies can be Russian or foreign. Private companies organize sports betting, too. They can either be Russian or foreign. The foreign ones must set up a legal entity in Russia to engage in this activity.

Lotteries in Russia

Since 2014, the state has been banning all private lotteries. Only the state-owned lotteries can participate in the market

2013 amendment to the 2003 law "On lotteries"

Who is in charge of lotteries?

Two ministries:

  1. Sportloto - The Ministry of Finance
  2. GSL - Gosudarstvennye sportivnye loterei, State Sports Lotteries - Ministry of Sports

Sports Betting in Russia

The Federal Tax Service issues licenses for sports betting establishments.

Russia saw the first online sports betting operators in 2016.

The complex registration process involves two steps:

  1. registration at the bookmaker-affiliated TSUPIS system (Payment Processing System for Online Gambling Transactions)
  2. registration with the betting website

In praxis, that meant that the players entered the same information twice.

It's no surprise that the cumbersome procedure pushed Russian players to unlicensed operators.

There are currently 29 licensed bookmaking companies.

Fun fact

60% of players gamble on the legal market

40% of players gamble on the illegal market

Source: Reiting bukmerov report (2017)

Do I Have to Pay Taxes on My Gambling Winnings in Russia?

Income and expenses from gambling activities are tax-exempted. You do have to pay personal income tax, which is usually taken at the source. The tax rate is 13%. The taxation applies to all residents in Russia, not just the Russian citizens.

How Can I Access Foreign Gambling Sites in Russia?

Accessing online casinos in Russia is possible through a VPN (Virtual Private Network). Using VPNs lets you gain access to online gambling sites despite Russia's strict laws. Remember, that you must also ensure that the casino you play is a VPN Friendly online casino.

Top 5 VPNs for Online Gambling in Russia

  1. NordVPN
  2. ExpressVPN
  3. CyberGhost
  4. Surfshark
  5. Private Internet Access

Funding Your Russian Casino Account

Gaining access to an online casino is only the first step. To play games, you'll need to deposit funds into your account. Due to Russia's strict rules, traditional methods may work less smoothly. You should choose a casino that supports alternative payment methods like cryptocurrencies.

Before depositing, ensure that the KYC process allows for Russian players to access. Otherwise you may not be able to withdraw your winnings. Make no mistake. Online casinos will always take your money. But that doesn't mean they will honor your winnings.

Preferred Payment Methods for Russian Players

Here are some of the most reliable and popular payment methods in Russian casinos:

Yandex Money

A popular method among Russian gamblers. Yandex Money allows you to fund an e-wallet anonymously. You can use your Russian credit or debit card. You only need a Yandex login to transfer funds to your casino account.

QIWI Wallet

Operating under the esteemed Visa brand, QIWI Wallet acts as a third-party processor. QIWI transfers funds between your local bank account and the online casino.

WebMoney

Created in the 1990s to enable secure online transfers in Russia. WebMoney is a popular choice among the local players who value security and privacy.

Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrencies offer unmatched anonymity, making them ideal for online casinos in Russia. Transactions are nearly instantaneous, the level of security they offer unmatched. Popular cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Monero, and Ethereum are particularly favored by Russian gamblers. This has been especially the case since the ban on VPNs in 2017.

Each of the above provides a secure way to lodge payments into your online casino account.

Can Tourists Play Online Casino Games in Russia?

Yes, they can. However, as a tourist, by virtue of your location, you’ll suffer the same limitations as the local players. Though, you’re, technically, allowed to play.

Are There Any Cryptocurrency Casinos in Russia?

In Russia, Bitcoin is not recognized as a currency. Local land-based casinos don't accept virtual currencies. However, some foreign online casinos with Russian digital betting licenses accept cryptocurrencies.

President Putin signed the "Crypto Bill" in 2020. Still, the Central Bank Governor remained skeptical. The national lottery and the payment processor TSUPIS still allow no crypto transactions. Yet, some foreign companies with Russian gambling licenses do accept cryptocurrencies.

The Future of Gambling in Russia

Despite the regulations, Russia remains among the world's leading gambling nations. Ranking #14 among the top gambling countries, Russia scored GGR)of $4 billion in 2022.

However, illegal gambling still dominates the Russian offline and online market. Bans have generated adverse effects. Russian players often engage in risky gambling on shady websites. At the same time, the state loses a significant tax profit.

Russian federal structure unevenly distributed revenue from taxation. This results in inequality between the regions. The Ministry of Finance plans to boost the taxation of sports betting operators. It is said that the increase will be tenfold.

Online Casinos in Russia: A Wrap-Up

The Russian laws surrounding online casinos are very stringent. This means you must follow a few extra steps to access most online casinos. Before opening any online casino, ensure you are connected to the internet through a VPN.

VPNs allow you to access online gambling websites despite the strict Russian laws. Yet, just because you have accessed a casino doesn't mean playing games comes easily.

To play any casino games, you must first deposit some money in your account.

Here's where it gets tricky. Due to the strict Russian rules, it becomes almost impossible to fund your account. You must, thus, ensure that a casino supports payment methods such as cryptocurrencies.

Additionally, you also need to check if these casinos support your language. There aren't any online casinos supported in Russia. On the other hand, foreign casinos may lack Russian multilingual support.

This also means that customer support is in an unknown language. Makes it tough to use the platform and solve any issues you might face.

If you find a Russian casino rated highly on this page, go for it. Rest assured, the platform's users are satisfied with its service. Hence, you can also give it a try.

Real Money Online Casinos in Russia: Key Facts

Here’s a quick rundown of the essential facts you need to know about real money online casinos in Russia, highlighting the complexities and current legal landscape of online gambling in the region:

  • Online casinos in Russia are ILLEGAL.
  • The only LEGAL forms of online gambling are online sports betting and the national lottery.
  • Many licensed sports betting websites offer online casino games.
  • Russia BLOCKS foreign casinos’ IPs and payment services.
  • Though the fines are defined, Russia DOES NOT PROSECUTE players that play on unlicensed casinos.
  • You MUST use a VPN to play at international casinos.
  • Russian players must be 18 years or older to access gambling activities.
  • You DON’T have to pay taxes on your gambling winnings, save for the automatically deducted personal income tax (13%)
Article Author - Dave Tamir
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