Russia wants to fine online gamblers, ban bookies’ international subsidiaries

A Russian state legislature has proposed fines for customers of unauthorized gambling sites, while a federal deputy wants to force bookies to shed all international ties.

On Tuesday, RT News reported that politicians in the central Russian republic of Tatarstan has introduced a bill that says anyone caught gambling online will face fines of between RUB 10k and 20k ($150-$300). The bill would also impose fines of between RUB 5k and 10k on parents or guardians who allow youths to gamble online.

Tatarstan State Council rep Rafil Nugumanov, one of the bill’s sponsors, said the bill was necessary because it was impossible to address the issue of illegal online gambling without some kind of sanction on the end user.

However, a member of the Media Guards project associated with the governing United Russia party insisted that there were already robust site-blocking efforts underway, making Tatarstan’s proposed legislation redundant.