Armenia parliament approves stricter online gambling restrictions
The volume of online casino bets in Armenia reportedly increased from AMD200bn (US$542.6m) in 2017 to AMD7.4trn (US$20bn) in 2025.
Armenia.- The National Assembly of Armenia has approved amendments to the country’s gambling legislation that will introduce stricter controls on online casino participation, including a mandatory self-exclusion system and restrictions on vulnerable groups.
Lawmakers passed the amendments to the Law on the Regulation of Gambling Activities and associated legislative changes in their concluding reading during a parliamentary session on Wednesday, June 17.
The bill seeks to address the rapid growth of online gambling in Armenia and reduce the social and financial harm linked to gambling addiction. According to ruling Civil Contract faction MP Hayk Sargsyan, who introduced the legislation, the volume of online casino bets in Armenia increased from AMD200bn (US$542.6m) in 2017 to AMD7.4trn (US$20bn) in 2025, representing more than a 35-fold rise over the eight-year period.
Under the new rules, all licensed online casinos will be required to display a self-blocking button on their websites and mobile applications. Individuals who activate this feature will be barred from accessing online casino services for five years, with no option for early reinstatement. The restriction will automatically extend for another five years unless the individual requests its removal at least five days before the initial term expires.
The self-exclusion measure will apply across all online casino platforms operating in Armenia, with operators required to enforce the restrictions once notified.
The amendments also seek to limit gambling participation among groups considered financially vulnerable. The legislation prohibits online gaming by recipients of social assistance benefits, people who rely primarily on pension payments for income, individuals undergoing bankruptcy proceedings, and those enrolled in programmes financed wholly or partly by the state.
In addition, the law introduces a gambling spending cap linked to personal income. Participation in online gaming activities will be limited to 20 per cent of an individual’s annually declared income.
Authorities plan to activate the new framework on January 1, 2027, once a gaming operator is appointed, a process expected to be completed before the end of 2026.
