A gambling control operator will begin operating in Armenia from February 2027. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced the launch of the system during a discussion of the draft state budget. The new entity will make it possible to track all bets placed within the country and winnings paid out, as well as monitor the transparency of tax revenues from the gambling industry.
Another objective of the operator will be restricting access to gambling for certain categories of citizens, primarily on online platforms. Armenia already has a voluntary self-exclusion mechanism in place that allows players to independently ban themselves from participating in gambling. The new system is intended to expand control capabilities and enhance the effectiveness of existing restrictions.
At the same time, Pashinyan drew attention to cases of circumventing restrictions: according to preliminary data, some citizens switch to foreign gambling websites. The prime minister called for a more detailed study of this issue, as access to foreign platforms could reduce the effectiveness of the national oversight system. Authorities expect that launching the new operator will ensure more comprehensive accounting of transactions and strengthen supervision over the gambling market.