The Russian State Duma, the lower house of the Federal Assembly, has approved new legislation to speed up the blocking of illegal online gambling sites.
The proposed legislation reduces the time available to the Federal Tax Service to review the regulator's requests from five working days to two.
These requests pertain to the identification of domain names, website URLs and internet network addresses that may contain content indicating illegal gambling offering.
Chairman of the Committee on Economic Policy Maxim Topilin stated: "This legislative decision is aimed at accelerating the process of blocking illegal content online.
"It is expected that this step will contribute to a more effective fight against the illegal gambling sector, strengthening trust in state-regulated platforms and improving the overall level of security in the digital space."
In addition to targeting illegal activity, Russia is increasingly recognising problem gambling as a public health issue requiring greater attention and support
From 1 September 2026, Russians affected by gambling addiction will be able to access free, comprehensive care from psychiatrists and addiction specialists.
The country is also set to introduce the first unified clinical guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of gambling addiction. The initiative is being developed by the Serbsky Psychiatric and Addiction Research Centre.
Furthermore, Russia’s self-exclusion register is expected to begin operating on 1 September 2026.
Recently, the Ministry of Finance issued a Draft Order requiring operators to display prominent gambling-risk warnings on websites and in advertising.
The State Duma also approved in its first reading a bill that would ban bookmakers and totalizators from accepting bets made with credit cards.
According to local media, Russia's land-based casino sector generated RUB 34.1bn ($464m) in revenue in 2025, up 15.2% year-on-year, although operators' total profit fell 17.1% to RUB 4.59bn
