Armenia plans to significantly restrict citizens' access to online casinos. A package of amendments to the gambling legislation is being considered in parliament, but its finalization has been postponed for now. The initiative aims to strengthen control over the online gambling market and reduce the social burden associated with gambling addiction.
According to MP Hayk Sargsyan, the volume of bets in online casinos has increased more than 35 times over eight years – from 0.2 trillion to 7.4 trillion drams. He stated that the 24/7 availability of such platforms exacerbates the problem of addiction, leading to increased debt and a worsening financial situation for citizens.
Among the proposed measures are a mandatory self-exclusion button on platforms, a five-year ban on participation in games without the possibility of early removal, and restrictions for recipients of social benefits and pensioners. Additionally, it is planned to introduce a limit on gambling expenses within 20% of declared income. The launch of the new rules is scheduled for 2027 after the implementation of a gaming operator system.