The State Duma is changing the Criminal Code to strengthen control over illegal gambling

The State Duma of Russia has passed in its first reading the bill about new measures of criminal liability for creation of illegal gambling parlors and websites.

The document brings about changes into the article 171 of the Criminal Code. According to amendments, gambling out of specially created zones will be punished by a fine in the amount of 300 000 to half a million rubles or by forced labor from 180 to 240 hours or by imprisonment from 2 to 4 years.

Breach of the law by a group of people or with appropriation of corporate opportunities will be punished by 6 years of corrective labor colonies or by a fine up to million rubles.

The bill also introduces criminal penalty for repeated provision of premises for clandestine gambling parlors. In this case maximum term of imprisonment will be up to 4 years while a maximum fine is from 500 000 to 1 million rubles.