Russia has moved forward with plans to introduce a self-exclusion programme for individuals seeking to refrain from gambling. The country’s lower house of parliament has approved legislation that would allow the scheme to take effect from 1 September 2026, pending approval by the upper house and the president.
Under the proposed system, any citizen will be able to voluntarily register for self-exclusion by submitting their personal details to a dedicated portal. The exclusion period must last a minimum of 12 months and cannot be cancelled once activated. During this time, gambling operators — including bookmakers, betting shops, casinos, and slot machine halls — will be prohibited from processing transactions for the individual or sending them promotional materials.
Supporters of the legislation say the initiative is designed to address problem gambling and provide assistance to those in need.
“The passage of this bill is significant both for individuals struggling with gambling addiction and for their families,” said Maxim Topilin, chairman of the State Duma Committee on Economic Policy. “It will help reduce the risk of addiction by giving people greater control over their gambling behaviour.”
To enrol in the self-exclusion programme, individuals must submit an application to the unified gambling regulator through the State Services portal, Gosuslugi, or in person at a government office such as a Multifunctional Centre. Applicants will be required to provide personal identification as well as their bank account details.
Russia already operates a self-exclusion system for loans, which has attracted more than 20 million participants since its launch in May 2025.
Industry support and Russia’s gambling landscape
Russia’s gambling sector has largely welcomed the introduction of self-exclusion legislation. The Association of Operators of the Entertainment and Sports and Entertainment Industry took part in drafting the bill, and individuals are already able to voluntarily self-exclude from gambling venues on a operator-by-operator basis.
In Russia, sports betting is permitted both online and at retail locations, while online casino gaming remains prohibited. Land-based casino gambling is allowed only within five officially designated gambling zones: Krasnaya Polyana in Sochi (Krasnodar Krai), Siberian Coin in Altai Krai, Primorye near Vladivostok, Yantarnaya in Kaliningrad Oblast, and Crimea on the Crimean Peninsula.
Data from Russia’s Ministry of Finance shows that legal gambling turnover reached 4.7 trillion roubles (US$59 billion) in 2024.
Brazil has also recently introduced a nationwide self-exclusion scheme for gamblers. The programme came into force on 10 December and requires comprehensive player monitoring and management across all licensed operators.
