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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.
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.
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.
Russian gambling regulation is complex, and not all forms of gambling are legal.
Russian legal gambling market comprises three sectors:
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.
No. Online Gambling in Russia is ILLEGAL. The only LEGAL forms of online gambling are:
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.
Yes, but with certain restrictions, as explained below. Brick-and-mortar gambling has been LEGAL since 1987.
Casino houses are allowed only in the defined gambling Zones:
The Crimean Peninsula should have been the first zone. But the political situation dragged the process.
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.
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"
Two ministries:
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:
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) |
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.
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.
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.
Here are some of the most reliable and popular payment methods in Russian casinos:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
