Russians have always held a passion for gambling, even though gambling itself has been banned throughout most of the country’s history. There are many online casinos today that will accept Russian players.
Offshore online casinos offer Russian-language interfaces and can accept the Russian Ruble as a currency. These casinos offer a large selection of diverse games as well as generous bonus opportunities.
A team of specialists reviews and ranks online Russian casinos based on quality and safety. We can assure you that you’ll find the best casino in Russia. Let’s take a look at some of the top Russian online casinos.
Russia’s gambling history
Russia’s gambling history dates back to the country’s famous Russian Revolution (1917). Gambling was banned completely in Soviet Russia.
The USSR SPC, in 1928, famously issued an order to all Soviet Republics to “take measures on the immediate closure of any facilities for card games, roulette, lotto and other kinds of gambling”, with no reasoning or explanation whatsoever. The USSR SPC resolutions made lotteries legalized in 1930, and again in 1932.
“On the Procedure of Issuing Permits for Lottery Arrangement” and “On the Regulation of the Lottery business”.
Many years later, in 1988, the first legal slot machines were introduced to the country, to be part of hotels under the helm of the State’s Committee of Tourism. More good news arrived in 1989 when the ban was lifted on all gambling forms. There were over 50 Moscow-based land casinos by 2002.
After identifying links between criminal organisations and gambling establishments in the country, the government decided to reinstate the total ban on Russian gambling.
There were however a few exceptions. Only four regions in the country were permitted to have land casinos. Undoubtedly, the decision was made in order to increase revenue from tourists in light of the country’s hosting of the Olympic Games and subsequently the football World Cup.
The future of Russian online casino
The future of gambling in Russia doesn’t look too bright for the time being. The country isn’t exactly the most progressive in terms of legislation, therefore it could be awhile before we see a ruling that makes gambling legal nationwide.
As Russians are very fond of mobile gaming, we have collected the best mobile casino Russian. Take a look at the best mobile casinos Russian and choose your favourite!
Are gambling laws in Russia legal?
Russia’s gambling laws are loud and clear in stating that nearly all forms of gambling are illegal, specifically referring to online gambling, and land-based gambling (with some exceptions).
Poker is treated as a gray area in law because it is a game that involves skill and luck.
Russian land casino are legal only in these regions: Kaliningrad Oblast Primorsky Krai Altai Krai and Krasnodar Krai. A gambling establishment is also illegal elsewhere.
Sochi Casino, Sobranie Casinos, Casino Altai Palaces, and Tigre de Cristal Casino resort are among the most loved land-based gambling venues in the country.
It’s interesting that betting on sports is legal in all of Russia. Foreign countries can apply for licenses. Many global brands, including 888.ru, have made their way into the Russian market through sports betting.
Russian gambling laws
A Roskomnadzor special government agency was created following the 2012 ruling by the Russian Supreme Court that prohibited online gambling. This body’s task is to track down and blacklist all illegal online gambling sites, including International online casinos and bookmakers.
Russian Internet Service Providers are now required to IP-block the blacklisted websites. They previously refused, but they face license suspension and severe monetary penalties if they do not comply with Roskomnadzor.
Despite this, millions of Russians gamble at foreign online casinos and sports betting sites by hiding their IP via VPN or straight up using their own IP addresses, at the risk of government prosecution.
It is believed that more than 70% of gambling bets made by Russians illegal. Russian authorities are not reluctant to prosecute those placing online wagers. They prefer going after operators offering these services.
You will not face any legal consequences for gambling online via foreign websites. It’s also very uncommon for Russian players to be charged with playing in a top Russian casino online.
Russians love to play their favorite games
Russian gamblers are attracted to all forms of gambling including sports and casino betting. As the majority of Russians prefer to place online wagers at foreign gambling sites, they enjoy a wide variety of casino games such as:
- Blackjack
- Roulette
- Poker
- Slot Machines
- Progressive Jackpots
Russians, of course, are avid sports enthusiasts. Sports betting is a huge business in Russia. Football betting, in particular, has a special place in bettor’s hearts, but also betting on various water sports, basketball, tennis, and so forth.
What is the secret to finding Russia’s best online casino?
Our review process of Russian online casinos is extremely thorough. We have to be extremely selective in order to provide you with the very best.
Our team is meticulous and has an eye for details. In every way, we inspect Russian casino’s service.
This way, you will know exactly what you’re dealing with and the type of service you can expect.
You can read below for more information about our review process.
Top online casino security
When reviewing online casinos, the first thing that we consider is security. It includes licensing, fairness in games and security for players. They all go hand in hand.
Typically, the best way to identify a casino’s reliability is licensing. Fortunately, casinos that accept Russian players are licensed by industry-leading regulatory bodies such as the Malta Gaming Authority, Cyprus eGaming Authority, Curaçao and Gibraltar.
Offshore licenses enable operators to reach a large player base. What’s more, they impose strict regulations on operators that go towards player security, fair play, and game fairness.
You can be sure that your play will only come from trusted operators who have a track record of happy customers.
Russian Online Casinos – Language
Operators know that there are millions of Russian players who don’t have many gambling options in their country. In order to capitalize on this potential income stream, operators go beyond the call of duty when accommodating Russian players.
Many top-rated online casinos in Russian are accessible because of this. Many online casinos that offer English-language gambling options also allow Russians to play.
Customer support at Russian online casinos
Every Russian online casino Russia runs smoothly because of its customer support. Everything else is a mess.
Reviewing casinos requires us to look at live chat availability (quality, response times, work hours), and telephone. (Is this a toll free number?) How long are they open? They also offer e-mail support, which is pretty much the only thing you should expect of any Russian casino.
Russian casinos typically offer live chat customer service 24 hours a day, which allows you to have uninterrupted gaming sessions.
Russian online casino software and games
Each online Russian casino is based on the gaming selection. The most crucial criteria for valuing the online casino is the game selection.
Russian gamblers are forced to use foreign gambling sites to satisfy their needs. The number of games available is almost limitless. These websites target the UK and European player bases, so they have the most up-to-date, best-quality gaming options.
Through providers in the likes of NetEnt, Yggdrasil, Play N Go, Microgaming and others – you can expect thousands of top-quality games at your disposal.
Russian players at online casinos receive bonuses
Let’s face it, the first thing every casino gamer wants to know about is the bonus. Bonuses are a boon to online gambling. Online casinos have a lot of them. There are many bonuses available at Russian online casinos.
We’ll give you a rundown of each bonus type available to you. Be sure to carefully read all terms and conditions before accepting any offers. Don’t allow yourself to be swayed by large bonus amounts if they are impossible to wager. It is always important to understand the terms of your bonus.
