The illegal online casino market in Russia has already surpassed the legal betting market in turnover. The Ministry of Finance has proposed to Putin to legalize it — as of August 2026, no final decision has been publicly announced.
Status: initiative under discussion, no final decisionOn January 27, 2026, it became known that Finance Minister Anton Siluanov addressed President Vladimir Putin in a letter, proposing to consider the possibility of lifting the existing ban on online casinos in Russia. If this happens, the article we published a month earlier — «Online Casinos in Russia: Are They Banned?» — will become outdated in its central part: casinos will no longer be an excluded category from the law.
But for now, this is not a law but a proposal, around which there has been an open bureaucratic and public struggle for six months. Let's figure out what exactly the Ministry of Finance is proposing, what arguments supporters and opponents present, and what stage the initiative is currently at.
In Brief
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Who proposed | Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, letter to the President of the Russian Federation |
| Date of appeal | January 27, 2026 (became known to the media) |
| Current status | Being refined at the level of government agencies, no decision |
| Kremlin's position | The idea will be «worked out» (Dmitry Peskov) |
| Position of the ERAI | Supports it, calling it a «necessary and timely measure» |
| Position of part of the State Duma | Strongly opposed, there is public criticism from several deputies |
| Proposed fee from operators | At least 30% of revenue minus paid winnings |
| Expected effect for the budget | Up to ≈100 billion rubles per year, according to the Ministry of Finance |
| Assessment of the illegal online casino market | More than 3 trillion rubles (Ministry of Finance), about 100 operators |
What Exactly Is the Ministry of Finance Proposing
According to «Kommersant», Siluanov's letter indicates that the Ministry of Finance proposes to consider lifting the ban on the organization and operation of online casinos under a number of conditions:
- the definition of a single operator by presidential decree upon the proposal of the Russian government — that is, without an open competition or multiple licensing, similar to the model already used for regulating part of the gambling market;
- accepting bets and payments through a mechanism similar to the Unified Center for Accounting of Betting Transfers (TsUPIS), which already operates with bookmakers;
- operator contributions to the budget of at least 30% of revenue minus paid winnings;
- empowering the operator and ERAI with responsibilities for preventing gambling addiction;
- strengthening measures to block illegal websites and prohibit money transfers in favor of their operators — alongside legalization, not instead of it.
Some materials also mention a possible increase in the minimum age of participants to 21 years — similar to the already existing threshold for sports betting.
Why Did the Ministry of Finance Raise This Topic
The argument is based on a simple observation: the legal segment of the gambling market in Russia — is in fact only sports betting, while online casinos as a category are essentially excluded from the legal framework. However, the demand for casino games has not gone away — it has simply moved to the illegal segment.
According to the Ministry of Finance, the illegal online casino segment consists of about a hundred operators, completely removed from any Russian regulation and taxation. The agency estimates that bringing this market «out of the shadows» into the legal field could annually generate an additional 100 billion rubles for the federal budget.
Timeline: Six Months Without a Decision
- January 27, 2026«Kommersant» publishes information about Siluanov's letter to the president proposing to legalize online casinos.
- January 28, 2026Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov confirms that the idea will be «worked out».
- January 29–30, 2026Sharp public criticism from several State Duma deputies.
- Early March 2026A member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation, Evgeny Masharov, states that legalization is possible «in 2026–2027» — that is, without a specific date.
- March 18, 2026Industry sources, citing an anonymous representative of one of the bookmakers, report expectations of an official announcement «in April» — no confirmation from the authorities had been received at that time.
- June 3, 2026ERAI General Director Alexey Grachev publicly supports the initiative, stating that it is «continuing to be refined at the level of government agencies».
At the time of publication of this material, no more recent official confirmations or denials of the initiative had appeared — the status of the initiative remains open.
Who Is For and Who Is Against
Supporters
Against
Arguments "for": transparency and budget revenue
Proponents of the initiative point to several practical benefits. Legalization allows for the same control model for online casinos that already exists for bookmakers: transactions through a regulated payment infrastructure, player identification, responsible gaming tools, and self-exclusion, which will come into effect in Russia starting September 1, 2026.
From a fiscal perspective, the argument is simple: if there is already demand for casino games being met by illegal offshore platforms, the state has a choice — either continue fighting against blockages (which, as experience with bookmakers shows, does not completely eliminate the illegal segment), or create a legal alternative and tax it.
Arguments "against": risks of gambling addiction and historical parallels
Opponents point to several risks. First, casino games traditionally involve significantly more participants than other types of gambling entertainment, meaning the potential growth of gambling addiction could be larger than with the legalization of sports betting.
Second, historical memory: the mass closure of casinos across Russia in the late 2000s was a deliberate decision by the state, implemented precisely because of the social costs of the gambling business. Some deputies fear that the legalization of the online format will effectively cancel the previous policy.
Third — the technical complexity of control: verifying the integrity of a physical gaming table or machine is easier than the algorithms of online casinos, meaning the risks of manipulation with game outcomes for the operator could be higher, even within a legal framework.
How this relates to existing regulation
To remind the context: currently in Russia, only land-based casinos in special gambling zones are legal (by the end of 2025 — early 2026, there will be several, including "Krasnaya Polyana," "Primorye," "Siberian Coin," and "Yantarnaya") and betting with bookmakers through a regulated system with ERAI and the Unified TSUPIS. It is this second model — already tested and operational — that is proposed as a reference for the possible launch of legal online casinos.
What will happen next
- Will the president make a decision on the initiative, and if so — within what timeframe;
- Who could become the single operator of online casinos if the decision is positive;
- Will the tax rate remain at 30% or change during further development;
- How will the illegal market react — will it disappear completely or partially remain, as happened after the legalization of sports betting;
- Will there be additional player protection measures beyond the already announced self-exclusion starting September 1, 2026.
Conclusion
The Ministry of Finance's proposal to legalize online casinos in Russia remains just that — as of August 2026, no final decision has been publicly announced. However, the very fact that the topic continues to be discussed at the level of the Kremlin, the relevant regulator ERAI, and the largest bookmakers shows that this is not a one-time trial balloon, but a seriously developed initiative.
The arguments of both sides are clear and significant: on one hand — up to 100 billion rubles in potential budget revenues and the possibility of bringing a market volume of over 3 trillion rubles out of the shadows; on the other — the risk of increased gambling addiction and the historical memory of the state's conscious refusal of the casino business in the 2000s.
If a decision is made, it will be one of the most significant changes in gambling regulation in Russia in recent years — comparable in scale to the legalization of sports betting itself. BET RATING will monitor the development of the initiative and update the material as new decisions emerge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are online casinos currently legalized in Russia?
No. As of August 2026, online casinos are banned in Russia; only bookmakers and totalizators can legally accept bets via the internet. A proposal to change this rule is being discussed.
Who proposed legalizing online casinos?
The Minister of Finance of Russia, Anton Siluanov — in a letter to President Vladimir Putin, which became known on January 27, 2026.
Has a decision been made on the legalization of online casinos?
As of August 2026, no public decision on legalization has been announced — the initiative continues to be refined at the level of government authorities, and no specific date for a decision has been provided.
What will the tax be for the legal operator of online casinos according to the Ministry of Finance's proposal?
At least 30% of revenue minus paid winnings — this is the proposed but not yet approved figure.
How much can the budget receive from the legalization of online casinos?
According to the Ministry of Finance's estimate — up to about 100 billion rubles annually.
Why are some State Duma deputies against legalization?
The main arguments are the risk of increased gambling addiction and the historical parallel with the conscious closure of casinos in Russia in the 2000s.
How will legalization affect bookmakers?
Industry representatives (BetBoom, Fonbet) generally view the initiative positively, noting that part of the audience already combines legal betting with illegal casinos, and legalization may redistribute existing demand rather than create a new outflow.
How large is the illegal online casino market in Russia?
According to the Ministry of Finance's estimate — over 3 trillion rubles, which exceeds the volume of the legal sports betting market (1.7 trillion rubles in 2024); the illegal segment includes about a hundred operators.
Sources
- «Kommersant» — «The Ministry of Finance proposed to legalize online casinos in Russia», January 27, 2026
- RIA Novosti — materials on the Ministry of Finance's proposal and the Kremlin's position, January 2026
- Sports.ru (betting industry) — comments from ERAI and industry participants, March–June 2026
- Prufy.ru, RIAMO — reactions from State Duma deputies and experts, January–February 2026
- Legalbet.ru — analysis of the Ministry of Finance's proposal conditions, February 2026
This material is prepared by BET RATING based on publications from Russian media and statements from discussion participants as of August 2026. The initiative is under discussion, and no final decision has been made; the article will be updated as new information becomes available.
Gambling involves the risk of losing money and may lead to addiction.
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