Russian Chamber of Commerce embraces bookies

As the government failed to block bookies’ domains, the Chamber of Commerce has accepted locally licensed operators.

Russia.- Bookmakers have taken a major step forward in Russia after the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation (RFCCI) decided to create a subcommittee dedicated to “bookmaker and totalisator activity”. The decision was highlighted by the First Self-Regulatory Organisation of Russian Bookmakers (First SRO) and is the result of a failed domain-blocking policy by the Russian government.

The subcommittee was created in order to develop a system to provide financial support for local sports and to become a key player in potential legislation or legal changes related to the segment, as well as to contribute to establish proper conditions to achieve progress in the authorised betting industry and fighting the illegal segment.

The First SRO’s former member Nikolai Oganezov has been designated as chairman of the subcommittee as said organisation was one of the major advocates for taking this measure. The official had urged bookies to join forces in order to “be perceived as an established branch of the Russian economy” before leaving its position as head of the organisation.

Russia seems to be taking a different approach towards gambling as the Minister of Communications Nikolai Nikoforov branded the domain-blocking policy as “old fashioned” and said “it will not allow [Russia] to achieve the desired result, and technology will always be promptly designed for each lock, allowing it to be circumvented.”