Public access to online casinos in Armenia may be severely restricted
06.05.2026,
14:56
At its session on Wednesday, the National Assembly of Armenia adopted amendments to the law "On the Regulation of Gambling Activities" and several related laws in the first reading.
YEREVAN, May 6. /ARKA/. At its session on Wednesday, the National Assembly of Armenia adopted amendments to the law "On the Regulation of Gambling Activities" and several related laws in the first reading.
The author of the legislative initiative, Hayk Sargsyan, a member of the ruling Civil Contract faction, stated that the volume of bets in online casinos in Armenia has increased more than 35-fold over the past eight years.
"If in 2017, the volume of bets in online casinos amounted to 0.2 trillion drams, then in 2025, having increased more than 35-fold, it reached 7.4 trillion drams. Online casinos have become a scourge and a plague for our people," Sargsyan noted.
According to him, hundreds of thousands of citizens are wasting their money on gambling addiction. Regardless of their location, they have 24/7 access to online casinos and are unable to break their addiction.
"In an attempt to recoup their losses, citizens are accumulating debts and loans, thereby further exacerbating an already critical situation. Under the current circumstances, the National Assembly is obligated to take preventative measures aimed at maximally restricting participation in online casinos for individuals who no longer wish to gamble but are unable to overcome their addiction, as well as those in dire social situations or those using government support programs," Sargsyan said.
The bill proposes establishing a mandatory requirement: all online casinos must publicly display a self-blocking button on their websites and apps.
"After clicking this button, online casino play will be prohibited for five years without the possibility of early reinstatement. After this period, the ban will be automatically extended for another five years unless the individual submits an application to lift the restriction five days before its expiration. Information about the self-blocking will be communicated to the gaming operator. "Activities in other online casinos and gaming platforms will also be suspended," Sargsyan emphasized.
He also stated the need to prohibit participation in online gaming for recipients of social benefits, individuals whose primary source of income is a pension, citizens in bankruptcy proceedings, and participants in subsidy programs implemented with funding or co-financing from the state budget. Furthermore, it is proposed to set a limit on online gaming participation at 20% of annually declared income.
The amendments are planned to come into effect on January 1, 2027, following the introduction of the gaming operator institution, which will likely be selected mid-year and implemented as soon as possible.
The author of the legislative initiative, Hayk Sargsyan, a member of the ruling Civil Contract faction, stated that the volume of bets in online casinos in Armenia has increased more than 35-fold over the past eight years.
"If in 2017, the volume of bets in online casinos amounted to 0.2 trillion drams, then in 2025, having increased more than 35-fold, it reached 7.4 trillion drams. Online casinos have become a scourge and a plague for our people," Sargsyan noted.
According to him, hundreds of thousands of citizens are wasting their money on gambling addiction. Regardless of their location, they have 24/7 access to online casinos and are unable to break their addiction.
"In an attempt to recoup their losses, citizens are accumulating debts and loans, thereby further exacerbating an already critical situation. Under the current circumstances, the National Assembly is obligated to take preventative measures aimed at maximally restricting participation in online casinos for individuals who no longer wish to gamble but are unable to overcome their addiction, as well as those in dire social situations or those using government support programs," Sargsyan said.
The bill proposes establishing a mandatory requirement: all online casinos must publicly display a self-blocking button on their websites and apps.
"After clicking this button, online casino play will be prohibited for five years without the possibility of early reinstatement. After this period, the ban will be automatically extended for another five years unless the individual submits an application to lift the restriction five days before its expiration. Information about the self-blocking will be communicated to the gaming operator. "Activities in other online casinos and gaming platforms will also be suspended," Sargsyan emphasized.
He also stated the need to prohibit participation in online gaming for recipients of social benefits, individuals whose primary source of income is a pension, citizens in bankruptcy proceedings, and participants in subsidy programs implemented with funding or co-financing from the state budget. Furthermore, it is proposed to set a limit on online gaming participation at 20% of annually declared income.
The amendments are planned to come into effect on January 1, 2027, following the introduction of the gaming operator institution, which will likely be selected mid-year and implemented as soon as possible.
