The topic of legalizing online casinos in Russia has surfaced in the news again. At the AIS-2026 forum, representatives of the Ministry of Finance estimated how much money the state could receive from this market if it were brought out of the shadows.
According to the ministry's calculations, the budget could receive around 100 billion rubles per year. This is roughly the same amount that legal betting currently brings in.
The authorities' main objective is clear — to put the market under strict control: licensing, advertising restrictions, payment monitoring and operations through a single operator.
The idea is also supported by major business figures — for example, Umar Kremlev openly advocates creating a regulated market with clear government oversight.
When this could happen
Rumors are spreading online that the law could be adopted within just a couple of months. But it is still too early to believe that. Officials are currently only calculating the figures and considering different options. An actual bill is still a long way off, so rapid changes should not be expected.
What will happen to the market if online casinos are legalized
Most likely, the market will follow roughly the same path that bookmakers have already gone through:
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requirements for licenses and operators will be introduced;
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advertising will be strictly controlled;
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payments and financial transactions will come under additional control;
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an official market with a limited number of legal platforms will be formed.
