TLDR
- Russia’s Federation Council has approved a bill cutting online casino blocking times to 48 hours
- Current process routes through the Federal Tax Service before Roskomnadzor can act, causing delays
- Operators often exploit the slow process by migrating traffic to mirror domains before a block takes effect
- The Ministry of Finance has separately proposed legalizing a limited number of online casinos with a 30% profit tax
- The Russian Orthodox Church has opposed legalization, citing social and demographic concerns
Russia is close to giving its regulators a much faster tool to shut down illegal online casinos. A new bill, already approved by both the State Duma and the Federation Council, would cut blocking times from several days down to just 48 hours. It now awaits President Vladimir Putin’s signature.
Right now, blocking an unauthorized gambling site is a multi-step process. Authorities must first report the site to the Federal Tax Service. That agency then requests the site be added to Russia’s register of prohibited online resources. Only then can Roskomnadzor, the country’s communications regulator, send the updated list to internet service providers.
Lawmakers say that chain of steps creates a window operators exploit. By the time a site is formally blocked, traffic has often already moved to a mirror domain.
A Problem That Has Lasted Nearly Two Decades
Russia has been trying to restrict online gambling since 2006, when legislation effectively banned online casino operations. A Supreme Court ruling later instructed internet providers to block foreign and unauthorized betting platforms.
Despite those measures, regulators have repeatedly admitted the approach has limits. Operators use mirror domains and technical workarounds to reappear quickly after being blocked. The new bill is a direct response to that pattern.
The idea is simple: if illegal sites can bounce back fast, regulators want to be able to respond just as fast.
A Split in Government Over the Future of Online Gambling
While enforcement is being tightened, a separate debate is playing out inside government. The Ministry of Finance has reportedly proposed allowing a small number of online casinos to operate legally under a regulated framework. Those operators would pay a 30% tax on annual profits.
The proposal has divided policymakers and industry figures. Some connected to Russia’s gambling sector argue that a legal framework would generate tax revenue and reduce the black market. One former gambling official has also called for expanding legal land-based casinos beyond Russia’s designated gambling zones into major cities.
The Russian Orthodox Church has pushed back firmly. Church representatives have urged the government to reject legalization, warning it could worsen existing social problems.
For now, the government appears aligned on one goal: making it harder for illegal operators to stay online.
If Putin signs the bill, Roskomnadzor will have a much shorter path from identifying an illegal casino to ordering ISPs to block it. Whether a faster process can solve a problem that has persisted for nearly 20 years remains to be seen.
