The first instant lottery in Belarus and amendments to the gambling legislation in the Republic of Buryatia. News digest of the last week

The government of Kyrgyzstan plans to introduce amendments to the gambling legislation, and the Head of the Republic of Buryatia Alexey Tsydenov reported that local authorities continued working on the project of the gambling and entertainment zone in Baikal Harbor Special Economic Zone. Read more news about the gambling industry in Russia in our digest.

Kyrgyzstan wants to introduce amendments to the gambling legislation

Amendments should restrict or totally ban advertising of casinos and betting houses on the Internet.

The bill states that advertising related to gambling and betting will be prohibited. Promotional events intended to popularize betting houses and totalizers will be banned, among other things.

Authorities of the Republic of Buryatia develop the idea of establishing a gambling zone in Baikal Harbor

The Head of the Republic of Buryatia Alexey Tsydenov said that local authorities continued studying the idea of setting up a gambling zone in Baikal Harbor. Alexey noted that the region needed both tourists and investors. In his opinion, the gambling and entertainment zone will bring the republic’s tourism industry to a new level.

Gambling business brought over 5 million rubles to the budget of the Moscow Region

In January 2019, gambling tax brought 5.7 million rubles to the budget of the Moscow Region. The data can be found in the open report on budget performance.

Besides, it is expected that gambling tax revenue of the Moscow Region may reach around 60 million rubles in 2019.

The government of Russia approved amendments to the bill against gambling disguised as bidding

The government of Russia approved draft amendment to the project of the Federal Law № 501874-7 ‘About the introduction of changes to the Federal Law ‘About securities market’ and standalone legal acts of the Russian Federation’.

The bill aims to prevent the organization and conduct of illegal gambling and lotteries disguised as professional activity in the securities market.

‘On December 21, 2018, the Federal Law ‘About the introduction of changes to the Federal Law ‘About securities market’ and the 3rd article of the Federal Law ‘About self-regulating organizations in the financial market’ came into effect, defining professional participants of the securities market as individuals that conduct investment consulting activities. Taking into account these amendments, there is a proposal to add provisions to the bill that would expand its regulation over such individuals,’ the statement said.

The first interactive instant lottery launched in Belarus

Belarusian Lotteries launched the first instant online lottery on the territory of Belarus.

‘The main goal of Belbet lottery is to raise additional funds for the development of the material and technical base of state environmental institutions and recreational organizations located on their territory,’ the company’s press-service said.

Earlier, in summer 2018, the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko signed a decree to legalize the operation of online casinos.