Legal bookmakers in Russia

In the context of Russian legislation, the term official sports betting applies to betting organisations that meet the established legal requirements. In order to operate in the field of sports betting in Russia, a betting firm must have a licence issued by the Federal Tax Service of the Russian Federation. This licence serves as proof that the company’s activities comply with the regulations and rules regulated by the Russian legislation in the field of betting.

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What is important to know about legal bookmakers?

In addition, in order to legalise their activities, legal bookmakers must be registered in the Russian Federation. This means that the company must have an official registration address, as well as the relevant documents regulating its activities.

• One of the key requirements is the availability of a bank guarantee. This condition ensures that the company can pay out winnings to its clients and ensure the financial stability of its activities.
• Finally, a bookmaker’s office must have net assets of at least 1 billion roubles. This requirement emphasises the financial reliability and stability of the company, which is important to protect the interests of clients and ensure fair play.

In general, official bookmaker offices in Russia are those companies that strictly follow the rules and standards established by the state. They ensure the safety and fairness of sports betting for bettors.

Official bookmakers in Russia

In the field of authorised bookmaking in Russia, there is a system of enhanced control over the activities of betting firms. Since the beginning of 2021, it has become mandatory for all legal betting companies in the country to connect to the Information System of the Unified Gambling Regulator (ERAI).

The ERAI regulates and supervises aspects of:

1. Bookmakers’ compliance with legislation;
2. requirements for the transfer of money to sports;
3. Manages the creation of a fund to pay players in case of unforeseen circumstances.

List of official bookmakers in Russia:

• BetBoom - a well-known brand with a wide range of sports betting.
• Winline - a popular platform with a user-friendly interface.
• Fonbet - one of the oldest and most respected offices in the country.
• Leon - a company offering a variety of bets.
• PARI - a bookmaker with innovative betting solutions.
• Betsiti - a well-known player on the market with a rich selection of events.
• Liga Stavok - one of the leading companies with a high level of service.
• Olimp - a company with a proven reputation among players.
• Tennisi - specialises in tennis betting.
• Baltbet - a bookmaker with a variety of betting offers.
• Marathon - one of the largest and oldest players on the market.
• Melbet - a bookmaker offering a wide range of sporting events.
• 1xStavka - known for its favourable quotes.
• Zenit - a company with a modern approach to betting.
• SportBet - a bookmaker with a focus on multiple sports.

These legal bookmakers provide a reliable environment for gambling on sporting events, meeting all the requirements of Russian legislation.

Unified Match Transfer Centre: basic functionality

In Russia, the Unified Centre for the Accounting of Interactive Betting Transfers, known as the Unified TSUPIS, occupies a central place in the system of control and management of betting organisations. Functioning as an independent intermediary between punters and licensed bookmakers, it guarantees the integrity and security of financial transactions.

Why do players need the Unified UTIS?

The main task of the Single UTIS is to keep a record of all money transactions related to betting. This includes both deposits to players’ accounts and the payment of winnings. The presence of such a system ensures that all financial movements are controlled and protected from fraud.

For the convenience of users, the 1cupis.ru website has been created, through which all transactions with the Unified CSUPIS wallet are carried out. Players can register on the site, create their personal wallet and use it to transfer funds to and from bookmaker’s offices. The site also provides a history of all the user’s transactions, which allows for full control over their finances.

Advantages and limitations of legal bookmakers

When a comparison is made between legal and illegal (offshore) bookmakers, the difference in their advantages and disadvantages becomes apparent.

Important pros that make legal bookmakers stand out include:

• Guaranteed access. Unlike illegal bookmakers, to which Roskomnadzor may restrict access, legal bookmakers provide stable and unrestricted access to their websites, except for the time required for technical works.
• Transparency of operations and tax liability. Legal bookmakers stand out due to the transparency of their financial transactions, which are carried out through the Single UTIS. They also fulfil their tax obligations by automatically withholding 13% tax from clients’ winnings and in some cases even compensating this amount.
• Data security. Official bookmakers ensure a high level of protection of their clients’ personal data, reducing the risk of their leakage, which is a serious problem among illegal bookmakers.
• Competitive odds. With increasing competition among legal bookmakers in the Russian market, these firms often offer attractive odds for betting, especially on well-known events and in particular on Russian football matches. This offer, previously considered an exclusive advantage of foreign bookmakers, is now actively used domestically as well.

These aspects make legal bookmakers in Russia a preferred and reliable option for sports betting enthusiasts.

Negative aspects of official bookmakers

However, despite the many positive aspects, legal bookmakers in Russia also have certain disadvantages that can affect the gaming experience of users. The main ones include:

• Mandatory identification. Before making deposits and participating in betting at legal bookmakers, players are required to undergo an identification procedure. The main purpose of this process is to exclude the possibility of underage participation in gambling, as well as to prevent the creation of several accounts by one player.
• Taxation of winnings. Taxation can be a significant disadvantage for some players. According to the current tax legislation in Russia, the tax rate on winnings in betting shops is defined as 13% of the difference between the amount the player intends to withdraw from his account and the amount of his original deposit. If the winnings exceed 15,000 roubles, the bookmaker’s office is obliged to withhold the tax itself and transfer it to the state treasury.

These aspects may be perceived as restrictions or inconveniences for some players, especially those who prefer anonymity or want to avoid additional procedures and tax obligations.

Rules and obligations of legal bookmakers

In order to operate in the field of official sports betting in Russia, bookmakers must meet strict criteria and fulfil a number of obligations.

Key ones include:

1. Formation of sufficient net assets: The bookmaker’s balance sheet must have net assets of at least 1 billion roubles, which serves as a guarantee of the company’s financial stability.
2. Providing a bank guarantee: A bookmaker must provide a bank guarantee of at least 500 million roubles as an additional guarantee of financial security.
3. Obtaining a licence from the Federal Tax Service: It is necessary to obtain an official licence from the Federal Tax Service to legally carry out betting activities.
4. Compliance with age restrictions: Legal bookmakers are not allowed to accept bets from persons under the age of 18. For this purpose, the offices are obliged to carry out identification of clients, confirming their age.
5. Tax withholding and remittance: If the client’s winnings exceed 15,000 roubles, the bookmaker must withhold tax and remit it to the state budget, as well as submit the relevant reporting to the Federal Tax Service.

Differences between legal and offshore betting shops

• Registration and compliance with laws. Official bookmakers registered in Russia are obliged to operate in strict compliance with Russian law, observing all established rules and regulations. In contrast, offshore companies are usually registered in jurisdictions with more flexible laws and do not always adhere to Russian legislative standards.
• Financial transactions through the Unified UTIS. All financial transactions carried out by legal bookmakers go through the Single UTIS system, which provides an additional level of protection and transparency in financial matters.
• Offshore companies use their own mechanisms to process financial transactions.
• Deposit and withdrawal methods. Legal bookmakers provide a wide range of deposit options, including the use of bank cards, common in Russia, as well as popular e-wallets.
• Offshore bookmakers may offer other options that are not always convenient for Russian users.
• Accessibility without the use of VPN. The sites of legal bookmakers are not blocked by Roskomnadzor.
• Unlike the sites of offshore companies, which often require the use of VPN for access.
• Automatic withholding of taxes on winnings. When the amount of winnings at legal bookmakers exceeds 15,000 roubles, tax charges are automatically deducted from the winnings. In illegal bookmakers, tax obligations fall entirely on the user.
• Identification procedure. In legal bookmaker’s offices the identification procedure can be performed remotely, including via “Gosuservices”. Offshore companies set their own identification rules.

Financial support of sports is among the main tasks performed by official bookmaker’s offices in Russia. In contrast, offshore bookmakers usually do not include such obligations in their activities.

How to choose a legal bookmaker?

Choosing a legal bookmaker in Russia requires a thoughtful and considered approach, especially when deciding where to bet on sporting events.

Key steps to choose

1. Licence verification. The first and most important step is to check if the bookmaker has a licence. This check can be done by visiting the official web resource of the Federal Tax Service of Russia or by referring to reliable lists of licensed bookmakers. 2 When assessing the reliability and reputation of a bookmaker’s office, it is extremely important to pay attention to the opinion of players, as well as to the history of timely payments and general popularity among users. To get an objective picture, it is useful to study the ratings
2. Analysing bets and events. It is important to compare the number and variety of sporting events and the list of bets offered by different bookmakers. The more choice, the better. Bookmakers rating, can help in comparing the offers of different bookmakers.
3. Odds comparison. This parameter directly affects the size of potential winnings. Comparing the odds of different bookmakers can help you choose the most favourable conditions. Ratings of bookmakers by odds can be a useful tool for this.
4. Exploring promotions and bonuses. Many bookmakers offer welcome bonuses, freebets, additional funds to deposit or betting insurance for new users. Check out the promotions and bonuses of your favourite betting firms to make the most of offers for newcomers.

Why do experienced bettors choose official sports betting?

Experienced bettors often favour official sports betting, and this decision is due to a number of good reasons. Firstly, legality and security play a key role. Legal bookmakers are obliged to comply with the laws of the country, including user data protection and financial security, which reduces the risk of fraud and leaks of personal information. The second important aspect is the reliability of payouts. Strict regulation and controls ensure that winnings are paid out without delays or obstacles, which is especially important for experienced players for whom stability and reliability of payouts are a priority.

Finally, quality customer support. Legal bookmakers provide efficient customer service, which creates an additional level of trust and confidence in the betting process. All these factors together form a compelling argument in favour of choosing official sports betting, making it the preferred option for experienced and responsible bettors.