Russian policymaker urges action against illegal online casinos
Yevgeny Masharov, a member of the Russian Civic Chamber’s commission on draft legislation, urged Moscow to block gambling websites and unauthorised cryptocurrency transfers. He warned that illegal online casinos and bookmakers could expand in 2026, and said new rules requiring bookmakers to deduct tax from winnings from 1 January could push some bettors towards illegal platforms.
The proposed blocking measures and tax changes could affect operators’ access to Russian bettors and payment channels.