Illegal gaming grows in Russia

Russian residents have actively participated in denouncing illegal online gaming operations.

Russia.- Based on public denounces, the Russian authorities revealed illegal online gaming keeps growing throughout the country. During the first six months of the year, complaints about unauthorised gaming operations grew 235 percent, as reported by the governmental regulator, Roskomnadzor.

The first half of the year noted 38,700 public complaints about illegal gaming platforms in Russia, according to Casino News Daily. The information was revealed by the national media and telecommunications regulators, which also proposed several laws to reduce the illegal market.

Roskomnadzor has stepped up on the online gaming censorship including sports media portals and its affiliates and heightening its IP-restrictions, which targets high traffic affiliate websites. Russian government officials declared that they would only favour online bookmakers and gambling operators in compliance with its TSUPIS payment processing and money transfer codes to protect Russian customers against criminal and fraudulent activities.

Meanwhile, a new report has revealed that Russia is set to triple its regulated sports betting industry in the next five years, as the country will host sports events like the upcoming FIFA World Cup in 2018. The report was conducted by the gambling affiliate Bookmakers Ratings.

President of Liga Stavok, Yuri Krasovsky, commented that approximately 80 percent of local players prefer unauthorised international licensed online operators. Whilst there are currently 29 licensed local bookmakers, 18 of them don’t have the necessary permissions to allow players to place bets online.