Russia is preparing new legislation targeting casino streamers and influencers who promote gambling. The bill aims to close a loophole that currently allows them to avoid liability despite existing restrictions on advertising.
State Duma Deputy Artem Metelev, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Youth Policy and author of the proposed legislation, told local media that the bill is expected to be adopted this autumn. The bill also targets advertising of unlicensed sites.
Metelev said the legislation would introduce broader restrictions covering not only traditional gambling advertising but also casino streams, social media posts and other forms of gambling promotion. Authorities would be able to target individuals and companies that promote gambling in Russia.
Since 1 September, Russia has brought a package of gambling safeguards into force, introducing a national self-exclusion system alongside mandatory risk warnings for betting websites and gambling advertising.
Self-exclusion applications can be submitted electronically via the Gosuslugi state services portal or at a Multifunctional Centre (MFC).
Applicants must select an exclusion period of at least 12 months. The restrictions cover sports betting operators, totalisators, casinos and gaming machine halls.
Separate requirements introduced under Federal Law No. 41-FZ mean sports betting operators and totalisators accepting interactive bets must display information about the risks and possible consequences of gambling across at least 7% of the visible area of their website homepage.
These are just some of a multitude of responsible gambling measures either introduced or proposed recently in Russia. In July, Global Gaming Insider analysed how Russian authorities are increasingly recognising the complex and multifaceted nature of gambling addiction.
Russia is set to introduce the first unified clinical guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of gambling addiction
