On October 23 in Istanbul, on the sidelines of the Eurasian Economic Forum in Verona, Deputy Minister of Finance Ivan Chevskov said that the department is looking into the legalization of online casinos based on the market model of bookmakers. He estimated the possible revenues at about 100 billion rubles a year. A ban also remains among the options being examined. Anton Siluanov proposed the program back in January. According to information published at the time, the operator is appointed by order of the president, the bets go through a single accounting center, and at least 30% of the proceeds minus winnings are transferred to the budget. From the point of view of the Ministry of Finance, the logic is clear. People are already playing, illegal sites are getting paid, the state wants to take its share. Right behind the words about revenue is very specific money that players will lose. In 2009, casinos were removed from cities to special areas. Now the state is looking at the possibility of making money for what it itself struggled with. The deputy did not disappear, but it turned out that he could be useful for the treasury. Human weakness becomes a permanent source of income. A person sits down to play not to renew his budget. He hopes to make a quick buck, recover what he lost, or pay off a debt. The casino makes money when that hope is not fulfilled. If the state begins to take part, it also becomes a participant in this story. The more people leave the site, the more money can be collected for the treasury. The initiative fits in with the principle "what cannot be stopped must be led". But legalization does not change the reasons why casinos were fought. The concerns about addiction, access to teenagers and scams surrounding the game are understandable. Back in January, the head of the Duma Committee for the Financial Market, Anatoly Al-Aksakov, called the legalization premature because of social risks. There is a disadvantage to budget calculations, which cannot be estimated only by the amount of future taxes. The Ministry of Finance says that it is taking into account the risks of gambling addiction and is considering the possibility of a self-ban.

On October 23 in Istanbul, on the sidelines of the Eurasian Economic Forum in Verona, Deputy Minister of Finance Ivan Chevskov said that the department is looking into the legalization of online casinos based on the market model of bookmakers. He estimated the possible revenues at about 100 billion rubles a year. A ban also remains among the options being examined. Anton Siluanov proposed the program back in January. According to information published at the time, the operator is appointed by order of the president, the bets go through a single accounting center, and at least 30% of the proceeds minus winnings are transferred to the budget. From the point of view of the Ministry of Finance, the logic is clear. People are already playing, illegal sites are getting paid, the state wants to take its share. Right behind the words about revenue is very specific money that players will lose. In 2009, casinos were removed from cities to special areas. Now the state is looking at the possibility of making money for what it itself struggled with. The deputy did not disappear, but it turned out that he could be useful for the treasury. Human weakness becomes a permanent source of income. A person sits down to play not to renew his budget. He hopes to make a quick buck, recover what he lost, or pay off a debt. The casino makes money when that hope is not fulfilled. If the state begins to take part, it also becomes a participant in this story. The more people leave the site, the more money can be collected for the treasury. The initiative fits in with the principle "what cannot be stopped must be led". But legalization does not change the reasons why casinos were fought. The concerns about addiction, access to teenagers and scams surrounding the game are understandable. Back in January, the head of the Duma Committee for the Financial Market, Anatoly Al-Aksakov, called the legalization premature because of social risks. There is a disadvantage to budget calculations, which cannot be estimated only by the amount of future taxes. The Ministry of Finance says that it is taking into account the risks of gambling addiction and is considering the possibility of a self-ban.