Russia Intensifies Crackdown on Illegal Gambling

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the Federal Tax Service to place bets with bookmakers, casinos and betting shops to identify illegal operators. He believes that placing bets with those operators, as well as buying lottery tickets is a good strategy to identify illegal gambling and lotteries organisers.

The strategy established by the government sets that three Federal Tax Service employees must make at least three bets. The employees can keep their wins, but it is expected that they will be paid into the strategy budget. If the Federal Tax Service finds an illegal operator, it will first block the website and add them to a blacklist of illegal lotteries and operators. The list already features more than 40 offshore companies.