Last week, the State Duma passed the so called Bill 478806-6, which makes the participation in online poker games illegal unless it takes place within the designated for that purpose areas.
Live gambling activities have been prohibited on the territory of Russia for five years now. Only residents of four remote areas are allowed to participate in poker games. A few months ago, the President Vladimir Putin agreed on increasing the number of those areas and included Crimea and Sochi to the list.
As a matter of fact, Russian authorities have never supported the online gambling activities. In the past, they have blocked players’ access to poker websites for no apparent reason.
Although there is a prohibition for online gambling ads, there is no law, which clearly states that Russia-based players are restricted from taking part in online poker activities.
In the middle of 2014, Russian players became hopeful that things were going to change as the Finance Ministry announced that there is a chance the online poker to be legalized. What is more, it was believed to be classified as a game that requires special skills rather than a stroke of luck.
However, instead of legalizing the online poker, Russian authorities came up with an unpleasant surprise.
Bill 478806-6, which is an amendment to Article 171-2 of the Criminal Code proposes severe penalties to everyone who dares to take part in illegal gambling activities. What makes Bill 478806-6 different from RAWA is that it is not considered to be a compromise alternative but as a “must-pass Bill”.
The main factor, which made authorities introduce the bill in question was the fact that illegal gambling activities are believed to generate huge revenues amounting to 1.5 million roubles.
The penalties intend to make matters more complicated to illegal gambling providers and make them unable to deal with the financial issues they will face once a huge fee is imposed.
Every provider of illegal gambling services is at risk of paying a fine between 500,000 and 1,000,000 roubles and spending up to four years behind the bars. Individuals who play poker outside the designated areas will be regarded as offenders.
The Bill has already been passed by the State Duma and the next step is to be passed to the Federation Council Committee for further discussion and approval.
According to the Gambling Act, implemented seven years ago, casinos, located on the territory of Russia were given a grace period that lasted two and a half years. Now, Bill 478806-6 is about to be implemented as soon as it is approved by the Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation.
