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Armenia’s parliament has approved sweeping changes to its gambling laws, tightening controls on online casino activity as concerns over addiction and financial harm mount.
The amendments, passed in their final reading on June 17, introduce mandatory self‑exclusion systems and new restrictions aimed at protecting vulnerable groups. Lawmakers said the measures were necessary to confront the rapid expansion of online gambling in the country, which has grown at an extraordinary pace over the past decade.
Civil Contract faction MP Hayk Sargsyan, who introduced the bill, pointed to the scale of the problem. He explained that the volume of online casino bets in Armenia had soared from AMD200bn (US$542.6m) in 2017 to AMD7.4trn (US$20bn) in 2025, a more than 35‑fold increase in just eight years.
Personal income spending cap, self-exclusion blocks, among new changes
Armenia’s new gambling framework introduces some of the strictest measures the country has ever applied to online casinos. Every licensed operator will now be required to place a visible self‑blocking button on both their websites and mobile apps.
Once a player activates this option, they will be locked out of online casino services for five years, with no chance of early reinstatement.
The restriction will automatically renew for another five years unless the individual formally requests its removal at least five days before the initial term ends. This self‑exclusion system will apply across all platforms, meaning operators must enforce the block once notified.
Lawmakers also targeted groups considered financially vulnerable. The legislation bans participation by people receiving social assistance, those who rely mainly on pensions, individuals undergoing bankruptcy, and anyone enrolled in state‑funded programs.
In addition, a personal income cap has been introduced: online gambling activity cannot exceed 20 percent of a player’s declared annual income.
Authorities plan to roll out the new framework on January 1, 2027, after a national gaming operator is appointed. That process is expected to conclude before the end of 2026.
Source: Focus Gaming News
