Russia moves forward with a plan to block online gambling payments

Russian Duma received recommendations from country’s legislative committee to approve measures targeted to disrupt payment processing with unauthorised online gambling sites.

A few months ago Russia proposed a legislation which set out regulations requiring banks and payment processors to block transactions between punters in the country and international operators. Now the State Duma Committee on Budget and Taxes recommended the approval of the draft federal law 108659-7.

Such steps are part of country‘s ongoing effort to stop the collaboration between Russian punters and internationally licensed online gambling sites. Internet service providers that fail to block gambling sites flagged by local authorities face high fines.

According to the new draft law, all the payment processors and any other financial agents who disregard the ban on unauthorised financial transfers will be included in the blacklist and will face consequences accordingly.

Online bookmakers licensed in the country are required to process all their payments through centralised hubs called TSUPIS.