The ban covers eight terms and their translations, including “gambling,” “casino,” “lottery,” “betting office,” and “gaming hall.” Each violation will carry a fine of about $1,380. Licensed operators will be able to keep using terms that match their license type, so a company holding a bookmaking license can still call itself a betting office. The same date also brings mandatory licensing for games run on mechanical and software-based equipment, including prize claw machines.
This builds on broader regulations taking effect the same day, which will require telecom providers to block unlicensed gambling sites using a list updated daily, and will restrict advertising and payments connected to those platforms.
Deputy committee chairman Rafael Gevorgyan stated:
“While we’re blocking, say, 50 websites, by the time it’s completed, the relevant organisations have already created another 50 websites, which must undergo the same process again.”
Separately, a player protection law taking effect January 1, 2027, will let Armenians self-exclude from every online casino in the country for five years, limit gambling spending at 20% of annual income, and fully ban access for people on social benefits, pensioners with no other income, and those in bankruptcy.
