PR in the Philippines

(AsiaGameHub) –   A leading psychologist states that the Russian Ministry of Finance’s plan to legalize online casinos may bring benefits to major cities, but it creates a clear threat to Russia’s remote regions.

Russian media outlet Gazeta.Ru reported that these remarks come from Natalia Ryabova, a clinical psychologist affiliated with the Be Healthy clinic and the Onkologica medical foundation.

“In regions that are more economically vulnerable, lower incomes push overall risk levels higher,” Ryabova said. “These areas have weaker monitoring systems and less robust prevention infrastructure. They also have restricted access to high-quality medical and psychological care. […] In these circumstances, even with formal legalization in effect, a large illegal gambling sector could flourish, and rates of addiction could climb.”

Ryabova noted that sections of the North Caucasus, Siberia, and the Russian Far East are especially vulnerable. She added that residents of many single-industry towns also face elevated risk.

Which Russian Regions Face Risk?

The psychologist explained that global gambling industry case studies can offer guidance if the Kremlin chooses to move forward with the legalization plan.

“There are clear examples where legalization has helped partially control the problem of gambling addiction,” said Ryabova. “For example, in the UK, mandatory player identification rules, betting limits, self-exclusion systems, and behavioral monitoring have helped spot problem gamblers at an early stage and limit their access to gambling.”

She added that comparable programs have also seen success in Sweden and Denmark.

Ryabova went on to say that wealthier Russian regions can likely successfully implement the same sort of checks and balances.

“Theoretically, this approach can work in large, economically developed regions such as Moscow, St. Petersburg, Tatarstan, and the Sverdlovsk region,” she explained.

Ryabova said these regions “have higher levels of digitalization, stronger financial control, and broader access to healthcare.”

This, she said, can better support addiction prevention campaigns and treatment programs.

The psychologist said: “Russia is an extremely heterogeneous country when it comes to income levels […]. For this reason, a single control model may produce very different results across different regions.”

Projected Tax Windfall From Online Casinos

The ministry’s proposal calls for the creation of a single, unified gambling regulator.

It also requires licensed online casino operators to pay taxes equal to at least 30% of their annual revenue, after subtracting total winnings paid out to customers.

Supporters of the proposal estimate the policy could generate around 100 billion rubles (more than $1.2 billion) in annual tax revenue.

Advocates also claim the move will shrink Russia’s illegal online casino market, but many lawmakers strongly oppose the plan.

Earlier this year, a senior leader of the Russian Communist Party called on the Kremlin to reject the ministry’s proposal.

The Communist Party official said that the nation’s public health and the well-being of Russian families are “more important than growing questionable tax revenue streams.”