Armenia tightens law on gambling advertising

Armenia's parliament has held a regular session to consider amendments to the law regulating media advertising of gambling entertainment. Seventy-four MPs voted in favour of the harsh new regulations, with one MP (https://allslotsonline.casino/en/) voting against and another abstaining.

Thus, the Armenian authorities have set restrictive measures on the timing of online casino and betting advertisements. According to the new law, it is allowed to advertise gambling entertainment in the country from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.

State Deputy Finance Minister Armen Hayrapetyan said that the current law enforcement practice has justified the tightening of gambling advertising rules.

Babken Tunyan, representative of My Step political force, commented on the current situation in Armenia's gambling market: "Over the past year and a half, this sphere of our country's economy has grown at an accelerated pace. Citizens are massively moving to the online segment, spending more time at online casinos. However, we need to increase the effectiveness of the fight against illegal gambling. One effective option to solve the problem is to tighten advertising rules. We have to make sure that people do not see it everywhere.

Babken Tounian added that the government is currently developing a larger package of restrictive measures to regulate gambling operators' activities in Armenia. According to him, the new initiative will soon be submitted to the parliament and public activists for consideration. It will affect the operation of betting shops and other games related to winning money.

Previously, the Armenian government banned casinos, betting shops and slot machine halls from being located near educational facilities and cultural-historical sites. For the country's capital, Yerevan, this norm is at 150 metres, and for other regions it is 100 metres. The total area of the premises where gaming machines are located cannot exceed 200 square metres. The requirement applies to any gambling online casino paypal establishment.