Russia legislation targets local bookmakers’ international sites

Russia’s online bookmakers could find themselves facing heat from local authorities if they run internationally licensed versions of their locally licensed betting brands.

On Saturday, Russia’s state Duma registered a new bill seeking to amend the country’s laws on lotteries and gambling to prohibit participation by any individual with an “unexpunged or outstanding criminal record for economic crimes or crimes against state power, or for intentional crimes of moderate gravity, serious crimes, especially serious crimes.”

The bill also stipulates that gambling organizers “cannot be legal entities registered in states or territories that are not providing for the disclosure and provision of information during financial transactions” that are overseen by Russia’s Ministry of Finance.

Russian-licensed gambling operators would be compelled to provide “information on their beneficial owners, individuals and legal entities” who have a “significant direct or indirect (through third parties) influence” on a gambling operator’s decision-making process.