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December 15, 2025, The Government of the Russian Federation, through the Federal Tax Service (FTS), has officially implemented a new licensing system for operators online lotteries. The changes tighten the requirements for financial transparency and the size of the authorized capital. This decision is of critical importance, since, according to the estimates of the Association of iGaming Operators of the CIS, it will affect more than 80% current market participants and will increase the entry barrier for new companies.
Event details: What does the new regulation provide?
A new legislative package adopted by the Federal Tax Service aims to strengthen oversight of funds in the gambling and lotteries industries. The focus is on technological and financial requirements for licensees. The goal is to combat illegal operators and enhance consumer protection.
Key requirements of the new system:
- Authorized capital: The minimum amount of the authorized capital for obtaining a license to conduct online lotteries has been increased by 150%. This amounts to 500 million rubles instead of the previous 200 million.
- Bank guarantees: A mandatory requirement has been introduced to provide an irrevocable bank guarantee for the amount of 350 million rubles to cover potential payouts.
- Integration with ECMIS: All transactions must go through the Unified Center for the Accounting of Rate Transfers (ECMIS) with stricter control over their verification.
- Software certification: Annual international certification of gaming software (software) for compliance with GLI (Gaming Laboratories International) standards is required.
Fact-box: New Financial Barriers
- Increase in the authorized capital: up to **500 million rubles.**
- Required bank guarantee: **350 million rubles.**
- Adaptation period for existing companies: **until May 1, 2026**
Reactions and comments: How are the industry and regulators responding?
Representatives of the legal iGaming market of the CIS generally supported the tightening, but pointed out the possible negative consequences for small businesses. Regulators are confident in the effectiveness of the measures. They expect that the market will become more transparent, and the number of illegal operators will decrease by 20-25% during the first half of 2026.
"Increasing capital requirements will eliminate unscrupulous companies, but will create almost insurmountable barriers for new startups and small regional lotteries. This leads to market consolidation, which is not always beneficial for newcomers," he commented. Viktor Semenov, Analyst on iGaming Regulation in the CIS-Expert.
According to a statement from the Federal Tax Service's press service on December 16, 2025, the new rules are primarily aimed at ensuring financial stability. The regulator emphasized that the security of players' funds is a priority. Existing operators must submit a compliance plan for the new regulations by March 1, 2026.
Context and background: Why is the regulator tightening controls?
The last major change in gambling regulation in Russia took place in 2021. Then ECUPIS was created. However, according to the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation, the volume of the shadow market of online lotteries and betting remains high, exceeding 45 billion rubles annually. This situation undermines the credibility of legal operators and leads to a shortfall in taxes.
The new legislation is a response to growing public and legal business demand for stricter oversight mechanisms for lottery operations. The regulator also took into account international experience, particularly the tightening of licensing in the UK and Malta, where financial reserve requirements were also increased in 2024.
Consequences and forecasts: What should newcomers to the market expect?
Tighter regulation will inevitably lead to market consolidation, meaning the acquisition of smaller players by larger holdings. For newcomers planning to enter the iGaming industry, this means seeking significant investment or partnerships with already licensed companies.
Table: Market Impact Forecast
| Group of participants | Predicted impact | Key strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Major operators | Increase in market share (+15% in 2026) | Absorption of small competitors |
| Small operators | Withdrawal from the market (up to 80%) or sale of a license | Urgent search for investors |
| Newbies/Startups | High barrier of entry | Focus on the B2B segment or foreign licenses |
Georgy Smirnov, an independent IT analyst, predicts that due to financial pressure, up to **60%** of iGaming software developers from the CIS will reorient to foreign markets such as Latin America and Africa, where licensing requirements are lower. Newcomers should carefully study the new law before starting any investments in this sector.
Date of publication: 2025-12-16T09:57:00+03:00
Sources: Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation (Draft No. 7145-2025), Federal Tax Service Statement dated 12/16/2025, Report of the Association of iGaming Operators of the CIS.
