Russia has taken a new step to boost regulated land-based gaming, on May 2, 2026, President Vladimir Putin signed the law authorizing the creation of a new gambling zone in the Altai Republic, Siberia, a move aimed at increasing tourism, employment and regional revenue.
The law enters into force 10 days after official publication, around May 12, 2026, positioning Altai as a new node in Russia’s network of authorized casino zones.
The initiative was driven by the Russian Government and developed by the Ministry of Finance, led by Anton Siluanov. The State Duma approved the bill in second and third readings on April 21, 2026, ahead of presidential signature. Regional head Andrei Turchak confirmed the project will not allow dispersed casinos, but rather a designated zone in the Maiminsky district, focused on tourism-led development.
Anton Siluanov
The legal framework remains anchored in Federal Law No. 244-FZ of December 29, 2006, which restricts casino operations to specific zones. Russia continues to ban online casinos, while land-based gaming is limited to approved regions including Krasnaya Polyana (Sochi), Primorye (near Vladivostok), Siberian Coin (Altai Krai) and Yantarnaya (Kaliningrad). The new Altai zone expands this controlled model further into Siberia.
Daniil Egorov
Market oversight involves the Ministry of Finance, the Federal Tax Service led by Daniil Egorov, and enforcement mechanisms coordinated with the unified betting regulator ERAI, headed by Alexey Grachev. At the same time, Russia is evaluating the legalization of online casinos under a proposed 30% tax, potentially generating up to 100 billion rubles annually, although the segment remains prohibited.
The Altai zone could create around 1,000 jobs and contribute at least 300 million rubles per year to the regional budget. For Russia, casino zones function as engines for tourism, hospitality, transport and fiscal revenue, reinforcing a model where regulated gaming is used to activate targeted regions without fully liberalizing the national market.
