Russia, the largest country of the world occupying 17,098,200 square kilometers of the Eurasian land, is located adjacent to 14 countries and is an independent country since December 25, 1991 after the disestablishment of the Soviet Union. This guide presents the up to date information regarding Russian betting sites including the historical overview of gambling legislation, authorities and significant events of the industry development which will help the reader to understand the present state of sports betting platform and top betting sites in Russia.
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Table of Contents
Summary of Key Events
History of Russian Gambling Law
The history of gambling regulation in Russia can be characterized as rather chaotic since the Soviet time. This paper looks at prohibition from the total ban in 1928 to the partial ban in the late 1980s:
- 1928-1987: None of them: Complete prohibition of gambling.
- 1987: Licensing of gambling tourism, with joint business opportunities.
- 1989: This marked the beginning of the legal gambling in the Soviet government since they had earlier banned it.
- 2002: Federal Sports Agency get the power to issued gambling permits.
- 2006: It is important to note Federal Law N244-FZ signed which banned slot machines and table games.
- 2009: Legal acknowledgment of the areas allowed for gambling activities.
Regulatory of Betting Sites in Russia
Gambling is highly controlled in Russia by various organizations to meet the set standards and prevent fraud.
- Federal Tax Service: The primary authority with regard to the granting of gambling licenses.
- Unified Regulator for Gambling: Established in the year 2020 to regulate the gambling business.
- Federal Sports Agency: Previoulsy in charge of the regulation of licensing, now involved in the regulation of sports betting.
Prohibited and Permitted Bets
It is therefore necessary to gain understanding of the types of bets that are permissible and those that are not in the Russian betting business;
- Permitted Bets: Activities that are allowed; sports betting, lotteries within certain areas.
- Prohibited Bets: The other forms of gambling that are prohibited are Casinos outside the designated areas, Private lotteries and prohibited online gambling respectively.
Gambling Licenses and Fees
The procedure of obtaining a gambling license in Russia has certain conditions and costs;
Licensing Authorities: The participants of the given process are the Federal Tax Service and regional authorities.
Financial Requirements:
- The minimum value of the gambling assets of casinos or slot machines is 600 million rubles, in the form of available cash.
- The capital required to start bookmakers’ offices is not less than 100 million rubles.
Premises Requirements:
- The minimum size of the casino facilities shall be 800 square meters.
- According to the above analysis, the minimum area of gaming halls with at least 50 slot machines should not be less than 100 square meters.
The Taxation of Gambling in Russia
The taxation system related to gambling operations in Russia is characterized by certain taxes and certain exemptions;
Tax Exemptions:
- Gambling services are zero rated for VAT.
- Any earnings falling below 4,000 Rubles are free from taxation.
Tax Rates:
- Gambling is taxed at the rate of 13% on any winnings that you may have made.
- Wagers made are free from the income tax.
Responsibility:
- Taxes are paid on the winning up to 15,000 Rubles.
- Gambling establishments keep the half of the winnings which exceed 15,000 Rubles and give the other half to the winners.
Popular Betting Sites in Russia
When it comes to reliable betting sites in Russia, there are several that can be recommended;
22Bet
22Bet: It features numerous sports and events ranging from the conventional leagues and tournaments to the average ones and is accompanied well by bonuses and promotions for all the clients found on this website.
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1xBet
1Xbet: A top site with a good choice of markets to bet on and a live betting service. It can be said that it is perfect for new players who are just getting their feet wet in the game as well as for the veterans.
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Melbet
Melbet: présente une grande diversité des sports tels que le football, le basketball, et le tennis. It has a very simple navigation and great customer service with probably the fastest rates of issue solving.
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Major Events in Russian Sports History
Here are the main moments that influenced the development of sports betting in Russia:
- 2014 Winter Olympics: Held in Sochi, enhancement of sports betting interest rate.
- 2018 FIFA World Cup: Held in Russia and thus raising awareness of the international community on its betting legal framework.
- 2020 New Regulations: Amendment of provisions of the laws on gambling to improve the existing laws.
Fame of a Sports Star in Russia
Russia has, therefore, fostered many sportsmen and women who have gained fame and victory on the international level;
- Lev Yashin: It refers to a former Nigerian football player, a goal keeper that played the Nigerian green eagles and is said to be among the legends of football players to this date.
- Maria Sharapova: The 5 time grand slam champion Tennis player.
- Evgeni Plushenko: You younger one, he is the famous Olympic hockey player with many medals.
Betting in Neighboring Countries
It will be pertinent to cast a brief glance on the laws and the regulating bodies of three countries of the neighboring regions.
Kazakhstan:
- Established gambling zones.
- Regulatory authority: The ministry of culture and sport for your information.
Ukraine:
- Legalized gambling in 2020.
- Regulatory authority: Gambling and Lotteries Regulatory Commission can be found as a state administrative structure regulating gambling and lotteries.
Belarus:
- Allows casinos and other forms of gambling via the internet.
- Regulatory authority: Ministry of Taxes and Duties is one more government institution which plays important role in the sphere of economy regulation.
Conclusion
The betting sites are legally operating in the Russian Federation thus pointing out that the law is rigid when it comes to this business, yet offering a wide selection to the bettors. It has a rather long history and clear procedural framework, but the trend belongs to the realm of the evolving ones. For all the people who are ready to plunge into this interesting area, it is important to be aware of the guidelines and choose the right networks.
Q&A of Betting Sites in Russia
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