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The draft law on Making Addenda and Amendments to the Law on Gambling Games, Internet Gambling Games and Casinos and the package of the attached bills were debated at the sitting of the NA Standing Committee on Economic Affairs on January 31. It was presented by the RA Deputy Minister of Finance Avag Avanesyan.

The initiative proposes to prohibit the creation of the opportunity to participate in Internet gambling games and lotteries organized in foreign countries, as well as the advertising of these games in the territory of our country or in the entire Internet range available in the RA.

The executive body is planning to block the websites of Internet gambling games and lotteries organized in foreign countries by organizations that do not have the appropriate license defined by our legislation. According to the rapporteur, there are very few European countries that do not block these websites.

The package defines regulations that will enable individuals who are not RA citizens to place bets and receive winnings in foreign currency.

Administrative liability is provided for failure to fulfill or improperly fulfill the obligations of blocking similar sites.

It is proposed to audit the financial statements submitted by the organizers of the gambling game or the casino, as well as the lotteries in accordance with the law.

Avag Avanesyan, answering the deputies’ questions, presented additional clarifications regarding the proposed amendments.

The initiative debated in the first reading was endorsed.