Russia’s parliament has approved legislation establishing a nationwide self-exclusion mechanism that will allow citizens to voluntarily ban themselves from gambling activities. The law passed its second and third readings in the State Duma and is scheduled to take effect on 1 September 2026, pending final approval by the upper house and the president.
Restrictions Placed on Operators and Venues
Under the new framework, individuals will be able to apply for inclusion in a centralized register managed by the country’s unified gambling regulator. Once listed, the individual will be legally barred from participating in gambling activities for a minimum period of 12 months. The self-exclusion decision cannot be withdrawn during that time, and a request for removal from the register can only be submitted after one year has elapsed since the original application.
Applicants will be required to provide bank account details as part of the process. This information will be used to return funds tied to bets placed on events that have not yet occurred, as well as winnings that were recorded but not paid out before the self-exclusion came into force.
The law imposes broad obligations on licensed gambling operators. Bookmakers and betting shops will be prohibited from accepting wagers from individuals included in the self-exclusion register. Casinos and slot machine parlours will be required to deny entry to listed individuals and will not be permitted to exchange money for gaming tokens or accept funds from them.
In addition, gambling companies will be barred from sending any form of advertising or promotional materials to self-excluded individuals. These restrictions apply across both retail and permitted online gambling activities.
The legislation also introduces financial penalties for non-compliance. Separate provisions propose amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses that would impose fines on operators and officials who accept bets from self-excluded players or fail to follow the correct procedure when handling applications. As reported by Vedomosti, under those proposals, officials could face fines ranging from 10,000 to 30,000 roubles, while legal entities could be fined between 50,000 and 100,000 roubles for violations related to self-excluded customers.
Legislative Background and Policy Objectives
The bill originated from members of the State Duma Committee on Physical Culture and Sports and passed its first reading in May 2025. Lawmakers described the initiative as a tool aimed at helping individuals manage harmful gambling behaviour and reducing the risks associated with addiction.
“The adoption of this bill is important both for people suffering from gambling addiction and for their loved ones. It will help reduce the risk of addiction by empowering people to take control of their gambling habits,” said Maxim Topilin, chairman of the State Duma Committee on Economic Policy.
Citizens will be able to submit self-exclusion requests through the State Services portal, Gosuslugi, or by visiting a government office such as a Multifunctional Centre. In addition to personal identification details, applicants must submit their banking information as part of the mandatory documentation.
Russia has previously implemented a similar centralized self-exclusion mechanism in the financial sector. A national loan self-exclusion portal launched in May 2025 has already attracted more than 20 million participants, a figure lawmakers have cited when pointing to expected uptake of the gambling register.
The introduction of a national self-exclusion list comes within a tightly regulated gambling environment. Most forms of gambling were restricted in Russia in 2009. Casino gambling is currently permitted only within designated gambling zones, including Krasnaya Polyana, Siberian Coin, Primorye, Yantarnaya, and Crimea. Online casino games remain prohibited.
Sports betting, both retail and online, operates under a regulated system. Licensed bookmakers are allowed to operate nationwide but must meet capital requirements and process online wagers through the Center for Interactive Bets. Lottery operations remain a state monopoly overseen by the Ministry of Sports and the Ministry of Finance.
Industry groups have largely supported the creation of a centralized self-exclusion system. Trade associations participated in drafting the legislation, noting that voluntary self-exclusion options already existed on an operator-by-operator basis. The new register consolidates those efforts into a single national system.
According to data from the Ministry of Finance, legal gambling turnover in Russia reached 4.7 trillion roubles in 2024. The self-exclusion law positions Russia alongside other jurisdictions that have recently introduced nationwide exclusion mechanisms, reflecting a broader regulatory focus on player protection and harm reduction.
