Russia Set to Block Online Gambling Payment Processors
February 2, 2015
Gamblers in Russia who want to play online are going to have a
much harder time doing it. Russia is establishing a new portal that
will block players from sending money to illegal sites. And in Russia,
any form of gambling is considered illegal unless it takes place
in designated areas within the country. A number of big online gambling
firms have already pulled out of the Russia market and some others,
like PokerStars and Party Poker are looking at their options.
Russia is taking steps that will make it extremely difficult to
send and receive money from operators that are not licensed in the
country. The payment processing will be through one portal with
any unsanctioned operators being denied. Russian banks and other
payment processors would also have to stop processing payments to
online gambling sites that are not included in the Self-Regulatory
Organization of Russian Bookmakers.
While the country is trying to get rid of online gambling, they
hope to take huge steps with their land-based casinos. Russia is
building a gambling zone in the Primorye which they hope to turn
into a mecca that will lure wealthy Asian and Russian gamblers and
other tourists. More than $2.2 billion has been invested in the
venture. The first hotel and casino is expected to open in May.
The Primorye gambling zone is expected to have as many as 16 hotel-casino
complexes.
