Russia has taken another step in its crackdown on illegal online gambling after the Federation Council, the upper chamber of the Russian Parliament chaired by Valentina Matviyenko, approved a reform that reduces the time required to block unauthorized online casino websites from five days to two days. Reported on June 23, 2026, the decision represents the most significant regulatory development currently affecting the Russian gaming industry, as it leaves the initiative one step away from becoming law following the signature of President Vladimir Putin.
- Russia speeds up blocking of illegal online casinos
The measure is designed to eliminate one of the key operational advantages enjoyed by illegal operators; the ability to rapidly redirect users to mirror domains before authorities complete blocking procedures.
The reform amends procedures linked to Federal Law No. 149-FZ on Information, Information Technologies and Information Protection and strengthens coordination among the Federal Tax Service (FTS), headed by Daniil Egorov, the communications regulator Roskomnadzor, led by Andrey Lipov, and ERAI (Unified Gambling Regulator), whose Director General is Alexey Grachev.
President Vladimir Putin
Under the current framework, authorities must identify an illegal website, submit the information to the FTS, complete administrative verification procedures, add the domain to the register of prohibited resources, and then instruct internet service providers to execute the block. Under the new system, that process will be reduced to 48 hours, allowing much faster action against unauthorized operators.
Anton Siluanov
The initiative has received support from the Russian Ministry of Finance, led by Anton Siluanov, as well as lawmakers such as Sergei Altukhov, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma’s Committee on Economic Policy. Authorities justify the reform by citing the size of the illegal market, estimated at more than RUB 3 trillion annually, a figure that significantly exceeds the regulated market.
According to official data, legal betting activities generated approximately RUB 1.7 trillion in wagering volume and RUB 414.9 billion in revenue during 2024. Once signed into law by Putin, the measure will give Russia one of the fastest online casino blocking systems in Europe and will serve as a foundation for additional regulatory initiatives expected during the second half of 2026, including enhanced digital control mechanisms and a nationwide self-exclusion program for players.
