Armenian lawmakers are considering new legislation that would introduce spending limits, overhaul the self-exclusion system and ban individuals who receive state support for gambling.
Citizens receiving state support encompass a diverse group of individuals. This includes those who receive various government benefits, reside in state-funded social housing, are undergoing bankruptcy proceedings or have outstanding debts to the state.
Additionally, the list covers individuals registered with the National Centre for the Treatment of Addiction, as well as those whose consumer loans exceed 40% of their annual income.
The proposed legislation states that a citizen's gambling amount should not exceed 20% of their reported annual income.
Online gambling operators will be required to prominently display a self-exclusion option on their websites and to report any such requests to the relevant authority.
This authority will be responsible for verifying the citizens' status concerning any restrictions and for establishing a centralised player identification system.
Furthermore, pensioners who rely only on their pension as a source of income, as well as seniors above the age of 70, will also be prohibited from gambling.
Hayk Sargsyan, a member of the ruling Civil Contract party and the author of the bill, pointed out: “Individuals over 70 years of age are now prohibited from participating in high-risk games of chance; previously, this restriction applied to individuals under 21.
“Participation in gambling is also prohibited for persons engaged in public service or holding designated official positions.”
The National Assembly of Armenia has approved the bill's initial reading. Sargsyan noted that several amendments were introduced after the first reading. The bill is set to be discussed at the next meeting of the National Assembly.
Last month, Armenia proposed separate reforms covering both legal and illegal gambling. The proposed measures target unlicensed operators through website blocking and payment restrictions, while also introducing stricter advertising rules for licensed operators.
Armenian Parliament recently approved an increase in gambling tax rates, with some levies being doubled
