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The occasion of our discussion is connected with the proposal coming from the Ministry of Finance and private sector, as well as the questions voiced by the deputies during the debate of the draft law in the first reading at the NA plenary sitting. We are ready to support all the initiatives, which will support the business sphere. Our target is the fight against gambling. On October 3, the Chair of the NA Standing Committee on Financial-Credit and Budgetary Affairs Gevorg Papoyan said during the working debate on the package of drafts on Making Addendum to the Law on Gambling Games, Internet Gambling Games and Casinos and on Making Addendum to the law on Lotteries authored by the deputy of the Civil Faction Hasmik Hakobyan and him.

The co-author Hasmik Hakobyan, the Committee members Arusyak Manavazyan, Edgar Hakobyan and Narek Grigoryan, the member of the NA Standing Committee on Economic Affairs Hovik Aghazaryan, the RA Deputy Minister Avag Avanesyan, the Deputy Chairman of the RA State Revenue Committee (SRC) Ashot Muradyan, the representatives, the officers of the of the Ministry of Defence, the RA Central Bank, a number of companies being involved with the organization of the lotteries took part in the discussion.

Let us remind that, according to Gevorg Papoyan, the main essence of the legislative initiative passed in the first reading is that every citizen should pay his banking account only from his banking or card account, i.e the citizen cannot pay his game account from other citizen’s banking account.

During the debate at the NA plenary sitting Gevorg Papoyan documented that their aim is to know who plays and what he/she plays and to specify by that their policies in this or that sphere. According to him, an opportunity will be created to clarify who are the gamblers, and state attitude will be displayed regarding them. As the MP assured, the citizen receiving an allowance cannot play, be a gambler. “This is a policy that we should pursue up to the end and the draft law is aimed at it,” the Committee Chair stated. According to him, relevant liability measures are introduced: 200.000 AMD fine is set.

The RA Deputy Minister of Finance Avag Avanesyan noted that the sphere is ready for regulations, and the only worrying fact is connected with the term and technological opportunities.

According to the Deputy Minister, there are no deep studies on gambling, but the Ministry has already begun the social-economic studies, what is based on the increase of betting.

The representatives of the companies organizing lotteries proposed to deliver the responsibility in a right way, as well as to speak up questions on the law entering into force.

As a result of discussion, the Chair of the NA Standing Committee on Financial-Credit and Budgetary Affairs Gevorg Papoyan proposed the MPs to have six-month term, i.e. the law will enter into force from April 1, 2024, and all attendees agreed to that.

The MP noted that the number of the betting people increases, though to his observations, this year the numbers increased. As the regulation loop is pressed by law, the gamblers begin to place bet in the organizations being abroad. It was noted that by the legislative initiative of the Ministry of Finance those organizations being abroad will be able to carry out activities in Armenia, if they get licensed in Armenia and pay taxes.

Gevorg Papoyan proposed those responsible to present distinct definitions and proposals in the near future on the advertisement of the lotteries.

The Deputy Chairman of the RA SRC Ashot Muradyan stated that they initiated a legislative package, which will give answers to all questions.

The NA deputies Arusyak Manavazyan, Hovik Aghazaryan and Narek Grigoryan, the co-author of the draft laws Hasmik Hakobyan underscored the importance of the legislative initiative and the fight against gambling and voiced their viewpoints.

The participants of the discussion emphasized the adoption of the legislative package, which will bring forth its contribution in the fight against gambling.

During the working debate viewpoints were sounded on the fact of placing bets by the term and contractual servicemen in the Armed Forces. It was mentioned that legal-educational measures are carried out in the fight against it. The availability of smartphones with the servicemen was stressed as one of the main reasons, which is inadmissible.