Russia rapper risks ‘administrative responsibility’ for online casino ties

Yet another Russian rapper is annoying the government by releasing videos that promote unauthorized online casinos.

On Thursday, Russia’s official parliamentary gazette reported that the Youth Parliament of the State Duma had asked the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) to sanction Aleksey Dolmatov aka rapper Guf for violating Russia’s advertising laws.

Specifically, Guf stands accused of appearing in a series of music videos that actively promote Curacao-licensed online casino Azino777. A different Russian rapper, Viti AK-47, released videos promoting the same site last fall that racked up over 7.5m views.

According to the youth parliament’s chairman Maria Voropayeva, Guf’s video lyrics claim that “participation in risk-based games is a way of earning” and Azino777 customers “can have a guaranteed high income.” Guf’s lyrics also “exaggerate the probability of obtaining a win and minimize the risk” of gambling online.