Russia betting sites

Russian sports betting

Gambling in Russia had hard times since the 14th century, when it was banned by the Russian Orthodox Church. In the 17th century underground betting took place in taverns, inns and marketplaces, even if tsar attempts to ban it.

At the end of 18th century russian casinos became famous throughout Europe, especially in Crimea. The bolsheviks allowed gambling until Stalin came to power in 1927 and banned again all gambling. This ban lasted 62 years, until 1989, when the first casino was open in Moscow.

Throughout the 90s and 2000s in Russia there were 58 casinos and 2000 gambling dens. Vladimir Putin passed a law in 2006 which caused the closing of all casinos by july 2009, except for four administrative zones.

In 2017, the Russian Ministry of Finance imposed a big tax on online betting processing centers which serve online sportsbooks, but fortunately sites are allowed to sign-up Russian gamblers.

Betting sites in Russia 2022

Is sports betting legal in Russia?

Russian sports betting was legalized in the last days of the Soviet Union. Russian states can license sportsbooks until 2002, when the FSA (Federal Sports Agency) was created. The FSA licensed bookmakers for about $100 apiece.

All began to change with Federal Law N 244-FZ passed in 2006 (approved by Putin), which banned casinos in all the big centers and banished them to four outlying areas of Russia’s territory.

So nowadays, betting and gambling in Russia are illegal in most of the nation, except in these four specific areas: Primorye (Far East), Altai (Siberia), Krasnodar (Azov City and Sochi), and Kaliningrad.

Players caught betting at unlicensed Russian betting sites are subjected to punishment. Bettors can enjoy themselves playing with foreign licensed bookmakers that offer russian language websites.

Sports betting safety in Russia

Online sports betting in the Russian states is complicated by the blacklist, which affects many of the safest sportsbooks. Bet on sports in Russia is safe, but only if you choose the most reputable bookmakers which are not banned at present.

Roskomnadzor is the Russian agency which regulates media and telecommunications and it keeps a blacklist of banned gambling sites. The agency banned over 4.000 gambling websites both domestic and international.

Russian ISPs are required to block sites on the blacklist. Despite that, some bookmakers are allowed access to Russian sports bettors.

We must say that this blacklist appears to be like a protection for Russian businesses, more than a ban based on ethical purposes.

Russian favorite sports to bet on

Gambling Russia: as we know, Russia is a nation with long and harsh winters, and so is no surprise that winter sports are the most popular. Activities like Ice Hockey, Ski, Skate are preferred by bettors, even if soccer is the most loved ever.

Russian players also love to place bet on rugby union, basketball, volleyball and motorsports.

Paying methods for russian bettors

The official coin is Russian Ruble (RON) and it is accepted all over the country, players like to play on russian language websites. Foreign licensed bookies accept these kind of payments:

• VISA, Maestro and MASTERCARD credit and prepaid cards
• Skrill
• Neteller
• Ecopayz
• Moneta
• Qiwi Wallet
• Webmoney
• Bank wire transfer
• Bitcoin (the safest way to withdrawal, when it’s possible)

Russia gambling resources

• Roskomnadzor: is the russian federal service for supervision of communications and mass media.
• Russian Ministry of Sport: overseen sports among the Russian population and anti-doping measures.
• Russian online casinos.