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Gambling business in modern Russia. Gambling business

Gambling business in modern Russia. Gambling business

27.04.2019

The entertainment industry is developing, perhaps, with no less speed than scientific and technological progress. Now they overlap more and more. This is evidenced by the huge number of offers from online casinos and other sites offering to play for money.

However, the legislator does not stand aside. In this connection, the requirements for gambling have been significantly tightened, and their organization outside the gambling zones established by the state is completely prohibited. So, let's figure out what is gambling according to the laws of the Russian Federation and the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

Basic concepts

Gambling is usually understood as such an agreement on winning between the organizer and participants, which is based on risk. There may be several participants. They play among themselves or against the organizer. The rules of the game are set by the organizer.

Participation in the lottery is also aimed at winning. However, this type of activity is permitted and regulated only by administrative regulations (14.27 of the Code of Administrative Offenses). Often, therefore, scammers attempt to disguise casinos and gambling halls as a lottery.

The rules for organizing gambling are clearly regulated by law. In 2015, several amendments were made to the Code of Administrative Offenses and the Criminal Code regarding this issue. As a result, the measures applied to persons who violated the ban on gambling outside specially designated areas have been tightened.

Administrative responsibility

The Code of Administrative Offenses deals with gambling in Article 14.1.1. Previously, it provided punishments for individuals whose income from illegal gambling was less than 1,500,000 rubles. Now, citizens are liable for such an act under the Criminal Code, and administrative measures are applied only to legal entities.

According to the first part of Article 14.1.1, those who illegally organized a gambling business outside the prescribed zones face a fine of 700,000 rubles to 1,000,000 rubles. In this case, the equipment will be confiscated. The same punishment threatens those who conduct gambling with the help of telecommunications and the Internet.

Another innovation was the introduction of administrative responsibility for conducting gambling by bookmakers without a special license. The penalty for such a violation is:

for citizens - 2,000 - 4,000 + confiscation of equipment;
for officials - 30,000 - 50,000 rubles + confiscation;
for legal entities - 500,000 - 1,000,000 rubles + confiscation.

If the games are played inside the zone or in licensed bookmakers, but bypassing the established rules, the legal entity will have to pay a fine (300,000 - 500,000 rubles).

If the violation was gross, the fine will be 500,000 - 1,000,000 rubles. In addition, it is possible to suspend the work of the bookmaker for 90 days.

Criminal liability

The disposition of the first part of Article 171.2 of the Criminal Code coincides with the disposition of Article 14.1.1 of the Code of Administrative Offenses. However, we are talking about individuals here. The previously existing income threshold of 1,500,000 rubles, after which the act was considered a criminal offense, has now been transferred to the qualified composition (part 2) of the article. In other words, if the income from illegal gambling is more than 1.5 million rubles, they speak of a large amount, and if more than 6 million, they speak of an especially large one.

The first part of this article provides for the following measures:

(up to half a million) or collection of income from the convict (maximum for 3 years);
(180 - 240 hours);
(up to 4 years);
(for 2 years maximum).

If the crime was committed by citizens who agreed in advance, or the amount of income is large, the punishments from the second part of Article 171.2 are imposed:

fine (up to 1 million rubles) or withdrawal of income (maximum for 5 years);
imprisonment (up to 4 years), supplemented, at times, with a fine (up to half a million rubles).

The third part of Article 171.2 covers organized groups, persons who receive income from illegal gambling on a particularly large scale, as well as officials who have taken advantage of their position for personal gain. The maximum fine for them is 1.5 million rubles, and the prison term is up to 6 years.

So, now you know how the organization and conduct of gambling in public places is qualified according to the articles of law, let's talk about underground online casinos.

The video below will tell you more about the tightening of responsibility for organizing gambling:

Are online casinos allowed?

Attitudes towards gambling in the world vary: in some states, their organization is allowed subject to obtaining a license, in others - a license is not needed at all, and in others (and this group includes the Russian Federation) - a ban is imposed on the organization of gambling halls outside special zones.

The same applies to online gambling. The creators of online casinos in Russia will be called to account under Article 171.2 of the Criminal Code. However, if the organizer is a foreign company from a country where this activity is allowed, the only possible sanction is a ban on access to the online casino site. Responsibility is shifted to the Internet provider.

Investigation of cases of illegal organization and conduct of gambling

During the investigation of cases of illegal gambling business, the following points should be established by the investigation team:

availability of information about gambling;
the use of special equipment necessary for the games;
use of the Internet or other information communications for the purpose of organizing an online casino;
the organizers of gambling have no license to conduct them in the gambling zone.

So how is it going?

First of all, the operatives are trying to find out the way the illegal act was committed and the methods by which the attackers tried to cover their tracks. Further, the motives and goals of criminal activity, the amount of income from it, as well as the identity of the criminals are established.
The operation to expose the organizers of underground casinos begins with surveillance. Employees watch establishments that arouse suspicion and collect facts.
Further, attempts are made to identify the persons who organized the conduct of gambling persons.
After collecting enough information, employees make an imaginary transaction in order to check the mechanism of the organization.
At the last stage, the documentation is checked and the equipment used for the games is examined.
After revealing criminal activity, witnesses, victims and defendants are interviewed, examinations, investigative experiments and face-to-face confrontations are carried out.

Arbitrage practice

Let us give an example of the application of part 2 of article 171.2 of the Criminal Code in its old version.

Example 1 The Presnensky District Court considered such a case. A man and a woman were accused of organizing gambling outside specially designated gambling zones, with a particularly large income.

It was established that the defendants were the operators of the gambling hall machines. Their duties included accommodating guests, issuing game credits to them in exchange for the funds received, and also handing over money in case of winning. The defendants pleaded not guilty, pointing out that they were only fulfilling their duties under an employment contract, and had nothing to do with organizing the work of the gambling hall.

Nevertheless, having considered the testimonies of the invited witnesses, the data of the examinations, the protocols, the documents found in the premises, the court came to the conclusion that the defendants were guilty. In view of the fact that both accused persons were characterized positively at the place of residence, were officially employed and had young children, two years in prison were replaced by a suspended sentence.

Example 2 Prior to the amendments, the first part of Article 171.2 included acts that brought the organizer an income of more than 1.5 million rubles, but less than 6 million. Let's consider an appropriate example.

The court of Naberezhnye Chelny called to account citizen Zakharov, who rented non-residential premises, misleading the landlord in order to organize a gambling hall in it. The accused was aware of the illegality of his actions, since the premises are located outside the gambling zone.

Further, Zakharov ordered gambling equipment, hired staff and began to conduct gambling. The income from the underground casino for the year amounted to about 3 million rubles. Zakharov admitted his guilt, therefore the case was considered in a special order. The defendant was fined (300,000 rubles).

On the territory of the Russian Federation there are five active gambling zones permitted by the government: Primorye, Siberian Coin, Yantarnaya, Krasnaya Polyana and. Another one - the Crimean one - is still under development. Each of them has its own characteristics. The map shows all gambling zones that operate on the territory of Russia.

Gambling zone "Azov-City"

Location: Krasnodar Territory

Number of gambling facilities: 3

Azov-City is the first gambling zone in Russia, which has been operating since 2010 and is included in the list of Russian gambling zones. Today, two investors owning three objects are located here - Royal Time LLC and Shambhala CJSC. On January 1, 2019, it is planned to be liquidated due to the legislative requirement, according to which only one gambling zone should operate in one subject of the federation, but local authorities and companies that own gambling business here are doing everything to save Azov City.

Casino "Oracle"

One of the largest casinos in the Russian Federation: the area of gambling premises reaches 4 thousand square meters. m. This casino, in addition, is one of the most visited gambling sites in the Russian Federation - only in April there were more than 20 thousand guests.

Casino facilities include slot rooms and poker rooms. The line of slot machines consists of 300 gaming devices of the latest generation, which not only have a high-quality picture and sound, but also good jackpots. Among them are popular slot machines from the manufacturers Novomatic, Igrosoft, Atronic, Belatra, Mega Jack, etc. Oracle features regular poker tournaments (held daily), as well as the monthly MINI ORACUL POKER SERIES poker tournament.

The casino has a hotel, restaurants and bars, as well as a concert venue. Of all Russian casinos, only Oracle conducts online broadcasts of entertainment events.

Casino "Shambhala"

The second most visited gambling establishment "Azov-City", in which on an area of about 8 thousand square meters. m placed more than 800 machines and 40 gaming tables (poker, roulette, slot machines, baccarat, blackjack). The total area of the complex is 19 thousand square meters. m.

On the territory there is a five-star hotel with 150 rooms, as well as restaurants with a wide variety of cuisines from around the world. A spa salon is also available to guests - "Shambhala" is the only facility in the IRCZ of Russia that offers such services.

Casino Nirvana

The third in terms of attendance and area is the gambling establishment of the IRCZ "Azov-City". It occupies 1.5 thousand square meters. m. In the gaming room - 250 machines, which differ in the minimum possible bet size. The casino regularly hosts slot tournaments and prize draws. There is also a "Poker School" where you can learn the basics and learn the secrets of this popular game.

Gambling zone "Primorye"

Location: Primorsky Krai, Muravinaya Bay

Number of gambling facilities: 1

Until recently, there were several residents on the territory of the gambling zone: G 1 Entertainment, Diamond Fortune Holdings Prim, Royal Time Primorye, Primorsky Entertainment Resorts City, etc. However, in 2017, the Primorsky Territory Development Corporation, which is developer "Primorye", terminated the lease agreement with "Royal Time Primorye" due to the company's failure to comply with the terms of investment. Free areas of the gambling zone were put up for auction, and recently new investors appeared on the project. In May 2018, it became, and in June, the Korean company House of the Moon Surname, which has not yet submitted a construction plan, announced its desire to invest in the project.

Tigre de Cristal Casino

The casino has 226 slot machines, 53 gaming tables and a premium VVS room. In the line of table games - poker, baccarat, sic bo, roulette. The slot machines feature the latest games from top manufacturers such as Novomatic and Spielo. In addition, you can bet on sports at Tigre de Cristal.

The building has a concert venue, where various shows are constantly held - the stars of Russian and world show business come to entertain guests. There is also a place to stay in Primorye - the luxury Tigre de Cristal hotel was nominated for the World Travel Awards in the Leading Russian Hotel 2017 category.

There are many shops and restaurants on the premises. It is planned that within a few years new gambling facilities and hotels for 4 and 5 stars will be implemented here.

Gambling zone "Yantarnaya"

Location: Kaliningrad region

Number of gambling facilities: 2

The investors of the Yantarnaya gambling zone today are Neveland LLC and Uni Gaming Company LLC. According to the plans of its developers, IRKZ should expand by 1 million square meters. m, but at the moment there are only two gaming facilities on its territory.

Slot hall Magic Crystal

The slot machine hall became the first gambling facility that opened on the territory of Yantarnaya. The establishment has been operating for two years. Magic Crystal occupies a two-story building in the shape of a glass cube, its area is 500 square meters. m. There are 150 slot machines installed in the hall, there is also a bar.

Casino Sobranie

At the end of 2016, the first and so far the only casino appeared on the territory of the gambling zone. Immediately after the opening, it received the title of one of the largest in Europe - the area of the gambling hall alone is more than 3.5 thousand square meters. m, and the total area - 18 thousand square meters. m.

There are an order of magnitude more slot machines here than in Primorye - 350 devices, but there are much fewer gaming tables - only 14. Nevertheless, the games here are as diverse as in Primorye - the lineup includes various types of poker, including texas hold'em, six card poker, blackjack, gold oasis, roulette.

Sobranie often hosts poker tournaments, including international ones.

Slot hall "Bonus"

For half a year in Krasnaya Polyana, another institution from the investor Casino Sochi has been operating - this is the Bonus slot machine hall. At the moment, it has 83 slot machines from manufacturers such as IGT, EGT, Scientific Games. There is a bar in the game room.

The first machines began to be installed in 1988 - in the hotels of the USSR State Committee for Tourism. In his system, VHVO "Intourservice" was formed, which developed new types of additional services for foreign tourists with payment in freely convertible currency. In the first year, 226 cash winning slot machines were installed in Intourist hotels in Moscow, Leningrad, Sochi, Yalta, Minsk, Tallinn, Vyborg and Pyatigorsk.

The first casino in the USSR, Astoria Palace, opened in the Estonian SSR in the spring of 1989 at the Palace Hotel in Tallinn. The second casino was opened in Moscow on August 23, 1989 at the Savoy Hotel.

In 2005, the turnover of this sphere amounted to $5,000,000,000-6,000,000,000, there were about 400,000 slot machines and 5,000 gaming tables in the country. By 2006, over 6,300 gambling licenses had been issued.

Up to 60% of domestic gambling clubs were concentrated in Moscow and St. Petersburg. The industry leaders were Ritzio Entertainment Group (Vulcan network), Storm International (Super Slots network and several casinos in Moscow and St. Petersburg) and Jackpot company.

State regulation of the organization and conduct of gambling is carried out by:

establishing the procedure for carrying out activities for the organization and conduct of gambling and relevant restrictions, mandatory requirements for the organizers of gambling, gambling establishments, visitors to gambling establishments, gambling zones;
allocation of territories intended for the implementation of activities for the organization and conduct of gambling - gambling zones;
issuance of permits for the implementation of activities for the organization and conduct of gambling in gambling zones;
issuance of licenses for the implementation of activities for the organization and conduct of gambling in bookmakers and sweepstakes;
detection, prohibition and suppression of the activities of persons engaged in activities for the organization and conduct of gambling in violation of the law on state regulation of activities for the organization and conduct of gambling.

The law provides that 4 gambling zones are created, while no more than one gambling zone can be created on the territory of one subject. If the created gambling zone lies in several regions, then other gambling zones cannot be created on their territory. Gambling zones are being created on the territory of the Altai Territory, Primorsky Territory, Kaliningrad Region, as well as on the border of the Krasnodar Territory and the Rostov Region. The procedure for the creation and liquidation of gambling zones, their names, boundaries, as well as other parameters of gambling zones are determined by the government in agreement with the state authorities of the subjects.

The duration of gambling zones is unlimited. The decision to liquidate the gambling zone by the government cannot be made before the expiration of 10 years from the date of its creation. The decision to create a gambling zone may set requirements for certain types of gambling establishments, as well as other restrictions. In the event that within 3 years from the date of obtaining a permit to organize and conduct gambling in the gambling zone, the organizer of gambling has not started to carry out activities to organize and conduct gambling in the relevant gambling zone, this permit is cancelled.

Gambling establishments, with the exception of betting shops and sweepstakes, may be opened only on the territory of gambling zones in accordance with the procedure established by this bill. At the same time, gambling zones must be created before July 1, 2007 and cannot be created on the lands of settlements.

Gambling zones are managed by the authorized state authorities of the subject. The governing bodies of gambling zones, which include parts of the territories of several subjects, are determined on the basis of an agreement between the state authorities of the respective subjects.

The organizer of gambling is obliged to provide the information necessary to monitor compliance with the requirements of the law. The net assets of the organizer of gambling during the entire period of activity cannot be less than: 600,000,000 rubles (for organizers of gambling in casinos and slot machine halls) and 100,000,000 rubles (for organizers of gambling in bookmakers and sweepstakes). The procedure for calculating the net asset value of organizers of gambling is established by the Ministry of Finance, while the government may establish additional requirements for organizers of gambling.

Visitors to the gambling establishment cannot be persons under the age of 18 years.

A gambling establishment should be divided into a service area for gamblers and a service area of a gambling establishment. The service area for gamblers in the casino cannot be less than 800 square meters. At least 10 gaming tables must be installed in the service area of the casino. In the case of installing slot machines in the service area of the casino, the area of the slot machine area cannot be less than 100 square meters, and at least 50 slot machines must be located in this area. Technologically, the average winning of a slot machine must be at least 90%.

The law came into force on January 1, 2007, while gambling establishments that meet the established requirements are entitled to continue their activities until June 30, 2009 without obtaining permission to organize and conduct gambling in the gambling zone. All gambling establishments that do not meet the requirements established by this bill must be closed before July 1, 2007. Gambling activity using information and telecommunication networks, including the Internet, as well as communication facilities, including mobile communications, is prohibited.

The location of the gambling zone in the south of the country is determined near the village of Port-Katon in the Azov district of the Rostov region, bordering on the Shcherbinovsky district of the Krasnodar Territory. The distance from Rostov-on-Don to Port-Katon is about 80 km, from Krasnodar - about 300 km.

July 1, 2009 the gambling business is closed. In February 2010, the first casino "Oracle" was opened in the gambling zone "Azov-City".

However, later it was decided to liquidate the gambling zone of Azov City, and to build a cadet corps or a military unit in its place. .

As a result, over the past 3 years since the closure of the gambling business, the number of underground gambling establishments in cities has increased dramatically. The media constantly report on the closure of underground casinos by the police.

Notes

Links

The State Duma approved the creation of four Russian Las Vegas

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010 .

See what "Gambling in Russia" is in other dictionaries:

GAMBLING business, entrepreneurial activity, which aims to extract income from the game. In Russia, the gambling business includes the organization of a casino (see CASINO), slot machine halls, bingo (see BINGO), lotteries (see LOTTERY), ... ... encyclopedic Dictionary

Business incubator- - an infrastructure facility designed to support small businesses at an early stage of their activities. It can be industrial, office, innovative, agro-industrial or have a mixed purpose. According to Appendix No. 5 to the order ... ... Banking Encyclopedia

The tax system of Russia established by the Tax Code of the Russian Federation (data as of January 1, 2008): Federal taxes and fees: Value added tax Excises Personal income tax Unified social tax Chapter 24 ... ... Wikipedia

The tax system of Russia established by the Tax Code of the Russian Federation (data as of January 1, 2006): Federal taxes and fees: Value added tax Excises Personal income tax Unified social tax Chapter 24 ... ... Wikipedia

Organized crime in Russia is a form of crime that appeared in the USSR in the 1960s, represented by organized criminal groups that commit mainly mercenary and mercenary violent crimes, leading ... ... Wikipedia

Gambling zones in Russia- According to the Federal Law of the Russian Federation dated December 29, 2006 On State Regulation of Organizing and Conducting Gambling and on Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation, a gambling ... Encyclopedia of Newsmakers

* Calculations use average data for Russia

How are things going in the gambling business by the end of 2018, what are gambling today and whether there are prospects for opening a casino in Russia - we will talk about all this in this article.

The gambling business, which was so rapidly developing in Russia until 2009, has undergone a significant transformation. First of all, it was caused by changes in the legislation in the field of organizing casinos and slot machine halls. Let's analyze what the industry has managed to achieve by the end of 2018, but first, let's understand the very concept of "gambling business".

What is gambling in general

Gambling in a broad sense is the activity of organizing any gambling. That is, the main elements of this business are the bets that are made by the players, the risk of losing the bet and the chance of winning an amount that exceeds the amount of the bet.

As a rule, all types of gambling are divided into two main types: the winnings in which depend on chance (slot machines, craps, and others), and the winnings in which depend not only on chance, but also on the skills of the players (for example, poker, sweepstakes) .

There are countless types of gambling all over the world, it is pointless to list them all. Almost all countries receive significant income from this type of business. In many countries, gambling is allowed only in a designated area, as a rule, these areas are prosperous in terms of economy. Las Vegas is visited by about 40 million tourists a year, in the Chinese gaming center of Macau, the number of tourists reaches 30 million a year, which brings a lot of money to the budget.

In countries where gambling is prohibited throughout the territory, this type of business does not disappear, but, as a rule, becomes criminal. For example, in Japan, all types of gambling are prohibited, except for sports betting, lotteries and some national types of games.

What is gambling business in Russia

Let's go back to the original source. The Tax Code of the Russian Federation, Article 364, states that the gambling business is an entrepreneurial activity in organizing and conducting gambling, associated with the extraction of income by organizations in the form of winnings and (or) fees for gambling.

The gambling business exists in two main forms: in the form of a casino and in the form of bookmakers or betting shops.

Bookmakers and sweepstakes are allowed throughout the Russian Federation. They must act in accordance with the Federal Law of December 29, 2006 N 244-FZ (as amended on November 27, 2017) "On State Regulation of Organizing and Conducting Gambling and on Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation". The latest changes (as of December 2018) to this law have been made and come into force on May 27, 2018. the specified Federal Law defines the legal framework for state regulation of the organization and conduct of gambling on the territory of the Russian Federation and establishes restrictions on the implementation of this activity in order to protect the morality, rights and legitimate interests of citizens.

Please note that the organization of lotteries does not apply to the gambling business, their activities are regulated by the Federal Law "On Lotteries" dated 11/11/2003 N 138-FZ (as amended on 03/07/2018).

Classic gambling, by which we mean slot machines and casinos, is allowed only in special zones.

Gambling zones in Russia where all types of gambling are allowed

As mentioned above, in Russia all types of gambling are allowed only in specialized gambling zones. Federal Law 244-FZ explains in detail where and under what conditions such zones can be located. However, there is no point in a detailed consideration of all the necessary conditions for placement, since the list of zones is strictly defined by law.

Currently, gambling zones have been created on the territories of the following subjects of the Russian Federation: the Republic of Crimea, Altai Territory, Krasnodar Territory, Primorsky Territory, Kaliningrad Region. Please note that no more than one gambling zone is created on the territory of one subject of the Russian Federation.

The situation in the gaming zones by the end of 2018

Republic of Crimea. The gambling zone of the Republic of Crimea, according to the Head of the Republic Sergey Aksyonov, will start operating in the fall of 2019. But to date, its location has not yet been clearly defined. Various options have been proposed and the current one may not be the final one. One of the biggest problems is the sectional regime established for the Republic of Crimea. The implementation of such a project will require not only huge investments, but also certain experience, technologies for promoting and managing such a complex. All this is clearly not enough for domestic operators, and foreign investors cannot legally enter this territory.

Altai region. Currently, a four-level gaming complex Altai Palace (Siberian coin complex) operates in the Altai Territory. It includes a casino, a hotel, a restaurant, a karaoke hall, a SPA complex and a large open area for outdoor activities, as well as a summer concert venue. Most often, the complex is visited by residents from various regions of Siberia. The complex is located at a distance of 288 kilometers from the capital of the Altai Territory, in the city of Barnaul. Over the nine years of its existence, more than 1.7 billion rubles of investments have been directed to the development of this gaming zone. In 2017, almost 60,000 people visited Altai Palace. An obstacle to the development of the "Siberian Coin" is the almost complete lack of the necessary infrastructure and the poor population of the region. Tax revenues from this gambling zone for 2017 amounted to just over 31 million rubles, which is incommensurable with the investments made.

Photos and videos from the official website of Altai Palace

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Krasnodar region. The Azov-City gambling zone is still located on the territory of the Krasnodar Territory, in which four casinos operate. Over the nine years of their existence, they were visited by over a million people. The total investment in the Azov-City organization exceeded 6 billion rubles. However, Dmitry Medvedev ordered to liquidate the Azov-City gambling zone in the Krasnodar Territory from December 31, 2018. According to experts, the Russian budget will spend about 10 billion rubles to compensate investors. Instead of Azov City, a new gambling zone is being created in the region, which will be called Krasnaya Polyana, located near the city of Sochi. The closure of Azov City is due to the fact that, according to the law, only one gaming zone can operate on the territory of a subject of the Federation. So far, only one casino operates in the new gaming zone - "Sochi Casino and Resort" and one slot machine hall. The total number of visitors to these establishments is still very small.

Primorsky Krai. The launch of the Primorye gaming zone, located in the Primorsky Territory, in Muravyina Bay, took place in October 2015. The first casino to operate in this gaming area was the Crystal Tiger, or in the French manner Tigre de Cristal. Currently, this gambling establishment and the hotel remain the only ones operating in the seaside gambling zone. The zone is located 50 kilometers from Vladivostok. Two more objects are planned in line, which, according to the plan, should receive tourists in 2019. For two years, the casino has received more than 850 thousand visitors, about 80% of whom are residents of China. The infrastructure of "Primorye" has not yet been completed and is in the process of development.

Photo: official Tigre De Cristal casino group Vkontakte

Kaliningrad region. The Yantarnaya gaming zone is located in the Kaliningrad region. The planned amount of investments in it will be about 45 billion rubles. The first MAGIC CRYSTAL slot machine hall on the territory of the Yantarnaya gambling zone began work in 2016. At the moment, the only Sobranie casino, a conference center, a walking area and a hotel operate on the territory of the complex. The gaming zone is located 35 kilometers from Kaliningrad. Plans for the development of the zone are very large, but everything rests on the lack of foreign investors who could help put the business processes in order.

Photo: the official group of the casino "Sobranie" Vkontakte

Online casino in Russia - legal or not

According to experts, the online casino market in Russia is about $1 billion a year, and in the whole world it is more than $45 billion.

The prohibition on carrying out activities for the organization and conduct of online casino gambling is contained in paragraph 3 of Art. 5 of the Federal Law "On state regulation of activities for the organization and conduct of gambling ...". Violation of these legal norms provides for criminal and administrative liability. Currently, the Federal Tax Service, Roskomnadzor or the Prosecutor General's Office are authorized to make decisions to block a gambling site without obtaining a court decision.

On May 26, 2018, certain provisions of the Federal Law of November 27, 2017 No. 358-FZ “On Amendments to the Federal Law “On Lotteries” and the Federal Law “On State Regulation of Organization and Conduct of Gambling and on Amendments in some legislative acts of the Russian Federation”, which prohibit banks and payment systems from transferring funds between individuals and illegal gaming sites.

The fine for organizing online gambling is up to 1 million rubles and provides for imprisonment for up to six years. You can’t even advertise gambling, the fine is up to 500 thousand rubles.

Thus, in Russia there is a complete ban on the operation of online casinos. In practice, it is quite difficult to implement such a ban. A modern information system allows, with a minimum skill, to bypass any site blocking, and various payment and withdrawal systems provide users with all the possibilities for almost any transaction.

Prospects for the development of the gambling business in Russia

The development of the gambling business in the Russian Federation is primarily hampered by the weak development of the legal framework for functioning. In particular, from January 1, 2018, gambling business tax rates have been doubled, or rather their minimum and maximum levels, within which the regional authorities themselves determine the specific rate.

The Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation plans to gradually increase the tax rates on the gambling business for all objects of taxation by 10 times, as well as to introduce new objects of taxation within the framework of the gambling business.

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International sanctions that make it difficult for foreign investors to come to Russia, which can bring not only the necessary investments, but also technologies, will not be lifted in the foreseeable future. Moreover, a significant tightening of sanctions is also possible, which will further limit the participation of foreign operators in the development of the gaming business in Russia.

The constant decline in real incomes of the population, which has been going on since 2014, contributes to a decrease in the profits of the gambling business. The lack of infrastructure and the low population density near the gaming zones allocated for the organization of the gambling business increase the risks of investments for investors.

Thus, the prospects for this business in Russia are very doubtful, which is confirmed by the near-zero dynamics of the development of existing gambling zones over the past nine years.

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In the Russian Federation, the activities of bookmakers, sweepstakes, casinos are controlled by law. Failure to comply with the laws is considered an administrative violation, and the owner of an illegal gambling outlet faces a fine or correctional labor. Let's take a closer look at what the law says about casinos and bookmakers in Russia, is it possible to organize such a business now, is a license required?

Despite some restrictions regarding gambling in Russia, it thrives on the territory of the country, as the demand is high. According to the legislation of the Russian Federation, a gambling business is a type of entrepreneurial activity based on receiving income from winnings. It exists in these forms:

Casino. As a rule, these are rooms with gaming tables and machines. The profit received from the activities of the casino makes the entrepreneur the organizer of the gambling business.
Totalizators and bookmakers. Sports betting and games also belong to the gambling business. Bookmakers accept cash bets on various sporting events. The business is based on predicting the outcome of the game.

According to Article 9 of Federal Law 244, gambling business is allowed in the following territories of the Russian Federation:

Republic of Crimea;
Altai region;
Kaliningrad region;
Primorsky Krai;
Krasnodar region.

Gaming points in other regions of Russia are considered illegal and are subject to liquidation. All casinos and bookmakers must have a special permit (license) to operate, otherwise they are also subject to closure.

Online gambling business

With the spread of the Internet, online casinos and bookmakers began to emerge. According to the latest data, gambling is one of the most profitable segments of the network. The following sites are popular:

Gaming Club;
Volcano Russia;
Jackpot City;
NetGame
777Planet.

On these resources, the visitor can play standard games: roulette, slot machines (slots), poker and more.

Despite the fact that in most of Russia the gambling business is officially prohibited, the law is not in force to influence the spread of casinos and sweepstakes on the Internet. Foreign sites can work without problems on the territory of the Russian Federation, because of this, some online casinos are disguised as foreign casinos and bookmakers. For example, it is not forbidden by law to obtain a license from the gambling commission of Malta or Antigua and Barbuda, and with this permission to organize an online casino.

taxes

Starting from 2018, the government of the Russian Federation plans to gradually raise the tax on the gambling business. This year, the numbers have doubled compared to previous years. Officials explain this by the fact that previously gambling taxes were not indexed, so now it is planned to catch up.

In the table, we will consider in more detail what taxes exist for the gambling business and their size.

Organization of gambling business

The gambling market has always been profitable, as the number of people who want to try their luck does not decrease every year. However, organizing your own casino or bookmaker's office is not an easy task, if we talk about legal activities. It should be understood that large investments are needed to start (obtaining a license, buying equipment, renting a room). Let's take a step-by-step look at how to organize a gambling business in Russia:

Obtaining a license. This is a mandatory item if you do not want problems with the law in the future. We will discuss how to obtain permission to open your own gaming point later in the article.
Search and room rental. It should be noted that a casino or bookmaker's office should not be located in the same building as educational or recreational institutions, as well as in a residential building. To begin with, you can rent a small non-residential premises of up to 200 square meters, in the future, if the business is successful, you can expand.
Purchase equipment and furniture. First of all, these are tables and chairs, cloth (for casinos), bar counters. Of the gambling equipment, you will need slot machines, gaming tables, accessories for poker and other gambling games if you plan to open a casino. For a bookmaker's office, you need to purchase a totalizator cash desk.
Hiring. The number of people working at the point depends on the scale of the business. For small casinos and bookmakers, a few employees are enough. Large entertainment venues will need at least a few dozen people. Please note that all employees must be of legal age.

To organize a gambling business from scratch, you need to have start-up capital. We will talk about the amount of initial expenses later in the article.

Opening a gambling business on the Internet

According to statistics, about 5 billion people use the Internet every day, many of them love to gamble. Therefore, online casinos thrive and make maximum profits. It should be noted that at the moment there is already quite a lot of competition in this segment, so it is necessary to approach the organization of the project with particular scrupulousness. Opening an online casino or a bookmaker's website includes several stages:

Purchase license. Having a permit to organize gambling allows you to further expand your business and avoid problems with the law.
Analyze market. See what is missing in domestic online casinos. For example, most Russian sites offer roulette games, but there are practically no poker and slots. Think about what features can set you apart from your competitors.
Purchase hosting. If you are planning to organize a serious project, then you need hosting at least so that users can use your site uninterruptedly, and all software is protected from hacker attacks; protection against Ddos attacks, use bulletproof hosting.
Purchase gaming software. Modern online gambling games are complex systems that require not only smooth operation, but also development, programming, design, drawing details, etc. High-quality software will help attract more customers to your site;
Implementation payment system. Most often, Visa / MasterCard bank cards or electronic wallets (WebMoney, Qiwi, PayPal) are used to pay on gambling sites. You will have to negotiate with representatives of payment systems through technical support.

To create a casino or betting shop online, you need to negotiate with programmers and web developers. Remember that the quality of the site is the key to the success of the gambling business on the Internet.

License

Unfortunately, obtaining a license in Russia is impossible, since gambling is officially prohibited in the country (with the exception of five regions). The legal solution in such a situation is to purchase an offshore permit. You can purchase a license in the following countries:

After obtaining a license, the organization of a casino or bookmaker's office (including on the Internet) will be completely legal. Issuing a permit is not a cheap procedure, but without it it is difficult to recruit customers and further promote the business.

Gambling business income

All over the world, casinos and bookmakers are considered the most profitable niche for generating income. It is difficult to calculate how much money the owners of sweepstakes and gambling establishments in the Russian Federation receive monthly, since there are no official statistics. In addition, the amount of income depends on many factors:

How big is the business. In small bookmakers, the turnover of funds is several tens of thousands of rubles per month, while large casinos receive monthly income of 2-3 million rubles or more.
Business type. Bookmakers and casinos are equally popular in the Russian Federation, but you should take into account the competition. If you are going to open a project, similar to which already exist in the city or the Internet, the level of income may not be high.

The popularity of gambling makes the business profitable in the eyes of potential investors. With the right organization of the project and a good marketing strategy, the profit will be significant.

Illegal gambling business

Gambling business is considered illegal in the absence of permission for its organization. According to Article 171.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, gambling and betting without a license is punishable by:

Penalties in the amount of up to 500 thousand rubles;
Prison term up to 5 years.

Since obtaining a license is an expensive procedure, cases of illegal organization of the gambling business have become more frequent recently. You should remember about criminal liability and act within the framework of the law.

Experience of Western countries

The governments of other countries have different attitudes towards the organization and conduct of gambling:

USA. As in Russia, in the United States of America, casinos and sweepstakes are allowed only in certain cities: Las Vegas and Atlantic City. In the States, a license is issued only to organize certain forms of gambling establishments: sweepstakes for horse races, Indian casinos, card clubs, lotteries and charity casinos.
Japan. Officially, gambling is not allowed in Japan, however, criminal gangs (yakuza) organize underground games of mahjong, cards, and roulette. For people who break the law, punishment is provided: a fine of up to 1 million yen or a prison term of up to 15 years.
France. Another leading country in terms of the number of operating casinos. Popular games: French roulette, slots, poker. So, in Paris, the World Poker Tour tournament is held annually, in which any adult can participate. A license to organize and conduct gambling is issued by the Ministry of Justice after checking the equipment and premises for compliance with all legal norms.
Germany. The country does not prohibit the organization of casinos and sweepstakes, however, there are no clear rules regarding gambling in the legislation. Germany is divided into 16 districts, each of which separately sets the criteria for obtaining a license and the amount of the gambling tax. The age at which you can visit gambling establishments also differs: for example, in Baden-Baden, entry to the casino is allowed only from 21 years old, while in Berlin - from 18 years old.
China. Gambling is prohibited almost throughout the country, with the exception of the province of Macau: there are the largest Chinese casinos, some of which are over 100 years old. You can conduct lotteries and bets on horse races, sports events, animal competitions after obtaining a license.

Most Western countries are loyal to the organization of the gambling business, because taxes from income go to the state treasury. At the same time, violation of gambling laws is severely punished: in most cases, fines, sometimes - a prison term.