Online Gambling Laws in Belarus

Belarus is a relatively poor Eastern European country, and given its immediate neighbours (like Russia and Poland) and their stance on gambling, you might expect the region to have the same strict rules regarding real money betting and gaming. Surprisingly, Belarus has a much more lax approach to the activity than its bordering countries. Read on for all the important information about Belarus's gambling laws.

Gambling Regulation by Casino Type

Belarus' Civil Code includes specific legislation regarding gambling, namely, Chapter 57: Conducting Games and Betting, which makes licensed gambling legal in the country. Presidential Decree No. 305 also makes online gambling in Belarus legal.

Most forms of gambling in Belarus are legal, but there are one or two side notes to consider. Let's look at gambling regulation in Belarus as it applies to the different types of gambling.

Casino Games

Casino gaming in Belarus is legal, with the country being home to around 20 land-based casinos and some 200 or so slot halls. Operators must be based in the country and obtain a licence to provide services. A maximum of 32 casino licences can be issued in Belarus. Most of the country's casinos are located in the capital city, Minsk, with the industry generating significant revenue, particularly from tourists from countries where casino gaming is illegal (e.g. neighbouring Russia).

Online casino gambling is also legal in Belarus, again under licence by the country's authority, MNS (Tax and Duties Ministry). Belarus' monopoly internet service provider, Beltelecom, actively blocks unlicensed online casinos. Residents still have little trouble finding safe online casinos at which to play.

Poker

Poker is legal in Belarus, and the game is quite popular in the country, with just about all land-based casinos offering it. Many of them have VIP rooms specifically set aside for poker tournaments. No sites are dedicated exclusively to poker games in the country (e.g. poker clubs). Still, major tournaments are regularly held at casinos in the capital city.

Online poker is also legal in Belarus, with operators required to apply for a licence. In reality, few online poker sites accept players from Belarus due to censorship issues and the unpredictable internet infrastructure.

Bingo

Bingo is legal in Belarus, with offline and online operators required to obtain a licence. However, the game is almost non-existent, so the country has no dedicated bingo venues or bingo halls. Similarly, online bingo gambling isn't very popular either, so there aren't many online bingo sites serving the Belarusian population.

Lotteries

Lottery games are legal in Belarus, but only government bodies and executive committees can run them, creating a monopoly. Several lotteries run in Belarus, including Superloto, Your Loto and Cyberloto.

Many of the existing licensed land-based lottery operators allow residents to play online lottery games for real money via their websites. While playing the lottery outside these licensed sites is generally considered illegal, the Belarusian population generally has little trouble accessing foreign sites.

Social Casinos and Crypto Casinos

Belarus gambling laws don't specifically mention such activities as social gambling and the issue of loot boxes, so these unregulated activities tend to go under the radar.

Similarly, cryptocurrency gambling is as yet unregulated in the country. Even though Belarus has legalized cryptocurrency transactions in the country and opened its first Bitcoin exchange in 2020, crypto coins are not currently recognized as currency, which means even licensed establishments cannot accept them. Belarusians can still access and play games in various cryptocurrencies via foreign crypto casinos.

Belarus Sports Betting Laws

Sports betting is popular in Belarus, especially in local and European football. Sports betting is legal in the country under licence, with around 200 bookmakers operating. Online sports betting is also legal in Belarus, with operators required to obtain a licence to provide services within the country. The country's sole ISP actively blocks unlicensed operator sites.

Gambling Age Restriction

Until the law was changed in 2018, those wishing to gamble had to be 18 or over. However, changes in the law mean only those aged 21 and over are legally allowed to gamble in Belarus.

Tax Regulation

Belarus gambling tax regulation dictates that operators must pay 4% on profits (bets minus payouts). In addition, fixed fees are also charged monthly depending on the gaming equipment used (e.g. €2,320 for a game table, €80 per game machine, etc.). Players are also subject to a 4% tax on gambling winnings, charged under income tax.

History of Gambling Laws in Belarus

Unlike its neighbouring countries, Belarus legalized most forms of gambling in 2001. Compare this to Russia, where gambling is illegal, and Poland, which has very strict and restrictive gambling laws. As of 2021, 20 land-based casinos are operating in Belarus, most of which are located within the capital city of Minsk.

In 2018, the law was expanded to include online casino gaming and online poker, both now legal in the country.

Key Facts

Here are the main points to remember about gambling in Belarus:

• Land-based and online casino gaming is legal, with operators requiring a licence. The country's ISP blocks unlicensed online casinos.
• Offline and online poker gaming is legal via licensed operators.
• Offline and online bingo is legally permitted through licensed operators, but no sites exist.
• Both land-based and online lotteries are run under monopoly control.
• Sports betting is legal via licensed bookmakers and online sites.