Belarus’s president moots new controls on “thriving” gambling industry
President Aleksandr Lukashenko has demanded new gambling legislation, suggesting that banks should be forced to block payments to foreign operators.
Belarus.- President Aleksandr Lukashenko has demanded a report on progress in the creation of a draft decree that would introduce new legislation for gambling in Belarus. The head of state proposed a range of new restrictions on gambling at a meeting with the leadership of the Council of Ministers yesterday (May 29) and told ministers to report back.
According to the state-owned Belarusian Telegraph Agency (BelTA), Lukashenko suggested that banks should be ordered to block payments to foreign gambling operators. He also proposed a ban on gambling using credit and suggested that family members could be allowed to request exclusions for compulsive gamblers.
He said that it was necessary to make sure that children and vulnerable individuals cannot access online gambling and betting, and that only “solvent people” should be allowed to gamble.
“This is not the first time we raise this issue, and this business is thriving in Belarus,” he is quoted as saying. “We have experience in dealing with the gambling business and we should use it to finalise all the rules. We know many examples of gambling addicts losing their grip and nothing can stop them. They take on debts, loans, sell property. It affects them, their families and society.”
As for the possible restrictions, he said: “Maybe we should allow family members of gambling addicts to ban them from gambling. After all, the money from lost apartments and cars goes to foreign gambling companies, therefore this is a matter of principle. I would like to know how this issue is to be resolved.
“To begin with, banks should be banned from transferring gambling-related money outside the country. The money earned here should be invested in the country. This applies to all areas of work.”
