Russia is legalizing online casinos in the country to raise revenue for the government. Finance Minister Anton Siluanov proposed legalizing online casinos.
Kommersant reported this development today, citing two sources familiar with a letter sent to President Vladimir Putin. The proposal comes as authorities search for additional income streams to offset mounting war-related expenditures.
Siluanov urged lifting Russia’s ban on online casinos, which has remained in force since 2009. According to the report, the finance minister argued that regulation would draw significant activity out of the shadows and into the tax system.
Despite the long-standing ban, online gambling has expanded rapidly across Russia. The Finance Ministry estimates that turnover in the country’s legal betting market reached 1.7 trillion rubles in 2024. Licensed bookmakers and totalizators currently operate online under existing rules. However, officials believe these figures represent only part of the market.
Regulation and Oversight
By comparison, analysts estimate the illegal online gambling market at about 3 trillion rubles, with nearly 100 illicit platforms serving Russian users.
Therefore, Siluanov proposed creating a unified system to track bets, modeled on mechanisms already used for legal bookmakers. He also suggested placing the sector under a single regulator responsible for consumer protection and addiction prevention.
Meanwhile, other state agencies would intensify efforts to block illegal gambling websites and payment channels. In his letter, Siluanov estimated that legalizing online casinos and imposing a monthly tax of at least 30 percent on gross revenue could generate roughly 100 billion rubles annually for the federal budget.
However, Kommersant reported no indication that Putin has responded or endorsed the idea. Globally, online gambling continues to grow, while researchers warn of rising addiction risks worldwide today.
