Russian Legislators to Vote on Bill Establishing Single Gambling Regulator

Russia’s legislature, the State Duma, will vote on a bill to establish a new regulator with jurisdiction over the entire Russian gambling industry.

The bill was introduced by Viktor Deryabkin and Igor Stankevich of the governing United Russia party, last week. It was sent to the State Duma Committee on Economic Policy, Industry, Innovative Development and Entrepreneurship, which approved it on November 17. The bill is now scheduled for a first reading on the Duma floor before year’s end.

The new regulator will be tasked with “improving the effectiveness of control and supervision in the field of gambling in order to increase funds, which will be directed to the Ministry of Culture and Sports.”

This will include “monitoring and detecting” illegal online gambling activity.

Also, it will prepare proposals for the improvement of Russian gambling legislation and will cooperate with other regulators where necessary.