Prison terms of up to four years
Russia’s State Duma has received a bill that would require more severe punishment for illegal gaming outside the country’s specially designated gaming economic zones, according to RIA Novosti.
Currently, unlicensed gambling is punishable by administrative fines and seizure of property.
Under the terms of the bill, unlicensed gaming would be punishable by imprisonment for up to two years; supervised release for up to four years; fines of up to 500,000 rubles (US$7,600), as well as community service, reported the Asia Gaming Brief. Those who lease property that hosts unlicensed gaming could face stiffer fines (from 500,000 to 1 million rubles) and a prison terms of up to four years.
Gaming was prohibited in Russia in 2009 outside four specialized zones: Kaliningrad Region, Primorsky Krai, Altai Krai and Krasnodar Krai.
