Self-Ban on Betting in Russia: What Has Changed Since September 2026

Relevant as of September 16, 2026.

Removing a bookmaker's app is easy. Much harder is ensuring that the desire to bet again does not turn into a new deposit within minutes. Since September 1, 2026, a legislative mechanism for voluntary refusal to participate in gambling has been in effect in Russia: a person submits an application, and their information is added to a special list maintained by the Unified Regulator of Gambling Activities — ERAI.

For the player, this decision lasts a minimum of one year. For the bookmaker, it is a requirement to consider this restriction when accepting bets, managing personal accounts, and processing payments. BET RATING analyzes how the self-exclusion from gambling works, what happens to unfinished bets, and why blocking one account does not replace the overall mechanism.

The legal basis is the Federal Law No. 575-FZ of December 29, 2025. The analysis of access to accounts and payments also takes into account the amendments No. 213-FZ of June 26, 2026.

What is self-exclusion from betting

Self-exclusion is a voluntary inclusion of a person in the list of individuals who have refused to participate in gambling. This list is maintained by ERAI. The mechanism covers activities of bookmakers, totalizators, casinos, and gaming machine halls as provided by Russian legislation.

A person does not choose a single inconvenient bookmaker in the application: the restriction is built around the participant and the overall list. Therefore, its meaning is broader than just deleting an app or contacting the support of a specific company.

Self-exclusion should not be confused with a banking restriction on transfers. It establishes obligations for participants in the regulated gambling market, rather than prohibiting a person from using their bank account altogether.

Main rules in one table

Basis: provisions of Article 5.2 of Law No. 244-FZ, introduced by Article 2 of Law No. 575-FZ. It is important to distinguish between the receipt of the application by ERAI, the inclusion of a person in the list, and the updating of information, which the law links to the prohibition of certain operations.

How to arrange self-exclusion through State Services or MFC

The law provides for electronic applications through State Services and submission through MFC regardless of the place of residence or stay. When applying to MFC, a passport or another document proving identity is required.

To arrange this, it is necessary to specify the duration of the refusal and consent to the processing of personal data. If a refund is needed for those operations for which the law provides for transfer to the bank account specified by the applicant, the account details must be included in the application.

1. Open the official State Services portal and find the service for refusing to participate in gambling or contact MFC.
2. Check personal data, the selected duration, and bank details if required.
3. Familiarize yourself with the consequences of the restriction and sign the application in the manner provided for the chosen method of application.
4. Save the confirmation of the application and check the information about inclusion in the list in your personal account on State Services.

This description outlines the procedure provided by law, not an instruction on specific interface buttons: their names and locations may change. If the service cannot be found, clarify the application procedure with the official support of the portal or MFC. Do not share your State Services password with intermediaries promising to arrange the ban for you.

What happens to money and unfinished bets

Self-exclusion does not mean an automatic loss of all money. The law distinguishes situations based on whether the event on which the bet was placed has occurred by the time the information in the list is updated.

If the event has not yet occurred

The bookmaker or totalizator is obliged to cancel the corresponding bet and refund the full amount of the stake. This applies to interactive bets as well. The law establishes a deadline of no later than five working days from the day the person is included in the list for actions provided for in part 16 of Article 5.2.

Conditional example: a user placed 2,000 rubles on a match that will start tomorrow. The information about their self-exclusion was updated today. Such a bet must be canceled with a refund of the stake; one should not expect a potential win from it.

If the event has already occurred

For bets on events that occurred before the information was updated, payment of winnings is provided. The June amendments specifically clarified the connection of this condition with the payment procedure for interactive bets.

Conditional example: the match ended before the information was updated, and the bet turned out to be winning. Inclusion in the list does not itself cancel the legal obligation to settle such a bet.

The rules for refunds and payments are outlined in part 16 of the introduced Article 5.2 and are clarified for interactive bets by Law No. 213-FZ.

Why the amount on the screen requires separate verification

The balance on the interface may include various components: personal funds, calculated winnings, funds in unfinished bets, and bonus accruals. They cannot be automatically considered as a single amount with the same conditions for payment. In particular, the promotional amount of a free bet is not necessarily the player's own cash funds.

In case of a dispute, request a written breakdown: which bets were canceled, which were settled, what amount is subject to refund, and where it was transferred. Keep the identifiers of the bets, event dates, confirmation of self-exclusion, and correspondence. If there is a risk of continuing to play, do not postpone self-restriction while waiting for the result of the next bet.

What the bookmaker is obliged to change

After the legally required update of information, the operator must not accept new bets and interactive bets from a person included in the list. For the Unified Center for Processing Sports Bets (ECUPS), there is a ban on corresponding transfers to bookmakers and totalizators on behalf of such a participant.

There is also an obligation to deny access to gambling establishments and to the personal account of the official website used for accepting interactive bets. Law No. 213-FZ clarified the definition of such an account. This is important for understanding the boundary: it refers to a resource for participating in bets, not an obligation to remove any informational pages of the company from the internet.

Advertising to a person on the list is prohibited, including through third parties acting on their behalf or in their interests. Organizers are also required to provide information about the opt-out procedure and responsible gaming provisions. These obligations are outlined in Article 5.2, taking into account the amendments regarding access to the cabinet.

Can a self-exclusion be lifted early?

A request for removal from the list can be made no earlier than 12 months from the date of inclusion. If a person initially chose a longer period, the law allows for such a request after the minimum annual period. Another basis for removal is the expiration of the period specified in the initial request.

For electronic requests for removal, a strengthened non-qualified or a strengthened qualified electronic signature is required. Therefore, it should not be assumed that the process for removal completely matches the initial application process. An alternative is to apply through the MFC in the manner prescribed by law.

One should rely on the confirmed status, not just on their own count of calendar days. The conditions for inclusion and removal are outlined in parts 4, 17–23 of Article 5.2.

How does self-exclusion differ from account blocking?

Removing an application removes the program from the device. Closing an account affects the relationship with a specific service. Spending limits restrict a specific aspect of the game. The state refusal mechanism uses a common list and creates legally established obligations.

These tools can be viewed as different levels of protection, but they are not interchangeable. The "delete account" button in the application does not confirm inclusion in the ERAI list. Similarly, stopping promotional mailings does not in itself mean a ban on accepting bets.

Does the mechanism apply to foreign online casinos?

The Russian list should not be viewed as a universal technical block on all gaming sites worldwide. The obligation of Russian regulated participants to consider self-exclusion does not imply that any foreign resource is connected to this system or will comply with Russian procedures.

Having a foreign license does not, by itself, confirm the website's interaction with the ERAI. The practical conclusion is that one should not check the effect of the restriction by attempting to register on another platform. For someone who has decided to stop, such a check could turn into a continuation of the game.

Who will see information about self-exclusion?

By law, the list is not subject to publication on the internet or other disclosure, except for the prescribed access. Information is provided to gambling organizers, the ECUPS, and the authorized supervisory authority. This is not an open database where any visitor can check a friend.

At the same time, it is incorrect to call the procedure anonymous: it is linked to the identification of the applicant and the processing of personal data. Relevant provisions are contained in parts 10–12 of Article 5.2.

What does this mean for the market: BET RATING's perspective

In our view, the introduction of a common mechanism makes responsible gaming a verifiable part of the operator's work. Specific actions matter: the availability of instructions, the correctness of calculations after restrictions, cessation of targeted advertising, and the ability to receive a clear response regarding refunds.

However, it is premature to conclude that there will be a reduction in dependency or a change in market revenue solely based on the fact that the law has come into force. Published data and observation time are needed for that. Self-exclusion creates a legal barrier to participation but does not automatically allow for an assessment of its long-term effect.

If betting has started to interfere with daily life, limiting access should be complemented by support from loved ones and seeking professional help. Additional materials are available in the «Responsible Gaming» section.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum self-exclusion period for betting?

No less than 12 months. A request for removal from the list cannot be submitted earlier than one year from the date of inclusion.

Can self-exclusion be applied only with one bookmaker?

The state procedure is based on the common ERAI list. Limiting an account with a specific bookmaker is a different tool that does not replace inclusion in this list.

Do I need to wait for the end of matches before submitting a request?

The law provides for calculations after inclusion: cancellation of bets on events that have not yet occurred with a refund of bets and payment of winnings for events that occurred before the information was updated. One should not delay a protective decision for the sake of continuing to play.

Can I cancel my request immediately after sending it?

No. The law explicitly states that a request for inclusion in the list cannot be withdrawn.

Is deleting the application equivalent to self-exclusion?

No. Deleting the program from the phone does not create a record in the ERAI list and does not initiate the procedure prescribed by law.

Will the information be available to everyone?

No. The law prohibits the publication of the list on the internet; access is provided for certain participants in the system and the supervisory authority.

This material describes the legislative mechanism as of the specified date and does not replace the analysis of an individual dispute. BET RATING does not accept bets or gaming deposits.