People from Russia can enjoy a limited number of legal state online casinos and an even smaller number of illegal casinos. Naturally, the state is doing a great job of shutting down all illegal casinos in Russia. But apart from national online casinos, Russians can enjoy many foreign casinos as well.
The gambling market is still expanding in this country and many Russians are opting for online gambling instead of land-based casinos, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. But sometimes it can be hard choosing the right casino. This text will provide a thorough analysis of online casino sites in Russia.
The gambling business sees fortunes amounting to billions of rubles per year in Russia. Not every entrepreneur can open a casino or betting site, given the difficulties with formalizing a business and the required amount of initial capital. At the same time, there are a lot of thematic advertisements on the Internet that offer to play entertaining games which can lead to promising winnings.
Therefore, the gaming business in Russia is a specific type of business, accompanied by increased attention and control from the state. In 2009, there was a wave of public outrage across the country related to gambling addiction among citizens, mostly under the age of 18.
Gambling is allowed for a Russian entrepreneur, but the specifics of state regulation and the presence of prohibitions in this area create difficulties both during opening and in subsequent periods.
There are at least two regulations that consider the procedure and principles for regulating the gambling business and entrepreneurship in this area:
In general, gambling is an agreement between two participants, the subject of which is the probability of winning by the player in cases determined by the rules of the founder of the gambling business. Depending on the type of game, the parties are several players.
Despite government restrictions, gambling is a regular occurrence in the Russian Federation. The demand for a gambling product is supported by the consumer, therefore, it gives rise to the development of the business line in question, which exists in several forms, most commonly:
There are 5 regions in the Russian Federation where gambling is not classified as an illegal business and is legally permitted in compliance with the rules and requirements established by law. Created underground casinos in other regions of the Russian Federation are classified as illegal organizations and are subject to liquidation, and the founders are held liable under the current legislation. Casinos or offices that accept bets operate on the basis of a license, otherwise, they are also subject to closure.
The obstacles created by the state in the organization of the gambling business have given rise to an alternative way to provide gaming services for real money in the Internet space. Opening a gambling business on the Internet is a profitable activity that allows you to earn real money by creating a virtual casino or bookmaker’s office.
The creators of online cinemas cooperate with online casinos, as evidenced by annoying advertising when watching a movie in Russia, so it makes no sense to voice popular services. Internet users daily come across banners, videos, and even clips of once-popular performers in narrow circles, offering to take risks and play slot machines or bet on sports games and events online.
Most of the territory of the Russian Federation is under a ban on gambling, but the legislation is not able to limit or control the appearance of casinos and bookmakers on the Internet. It is enough to register a domain and create a gaming site under the guise of a foreign company, having received a license in the legal field of Malta, Antigua or Baruda. At the same time, residents of the Russian Federation can freely play on such services.
The state wants to receive a tax on the gambling business, since we are talking about amounts in the millions of rubles, and the entrepreneur seeks to get away from the taxation system of the Russian Federation.
The gambling business in Russia is one of the top 100 profitable activities. Not a single owner of a bookmaker or casino voices statistics on monthly cash turnover, but it is no secret that we are talking about multi-million dollar amounts. The following factors influence profitability:
There is no need to even try to illegally set up a gambling business in Russia. Firstly, in any case, this will end with the liquidation of the enterprise and the withdrawal of funds. Secondly, for violating the law in the field of organizing a gambling business, the owner faces:
In 2018, hundreds of betting shops and casinos operated illegally on the territory of the Russian Federation, and of course, on a corrupt basis. It is easier to pay a fine or give a bribe than to spend tens of millions of rubles on official registration. There were illegal poker clubs where amateurs and professionals of the card game would have met. Tournaments were held annually, with a prize fund of tens of millions of rubles. Only members of the “club” could get into such illegal events.
But that was soon prevented by the state as illegal casino owners in Russia have incredibly high fines and years of imprisonment. Opening a casino or a bookmaker’s office is difficult, but real. This will require multi-million initial investments and legislative regulation of activities. Not a single casino works to the detriment and it is impossible to beat it. This means that every day thousands of Russian citizens lose their own money while spending it on risky pleasure.
In Russia, gambling addiction is on the same level as alcohol abuse and drug addiction. Of course, the income received overshadows the moral and ethical standards, but still this kind of activity contributes to the degradation of society. Gambling pushes people to rash and contrary to the law actions. Therefore interventions by the state were of the highest necessity.
The Internet simplifies the process of registering a business and creates difficulties for the state in terms of control and regulation. To play in such a casino, the client goes through the registration procedure and makes a deposit payment. Russian citizens who have experience of playing real slot machines are guided in the interface of familiar devices.
Is Online Casino Legal in Russia?
Apart from four districts, gambling is prohibited in Russia. Be that as it may, online gambling is hard to regulate without any corresponding laws and therefore online gambling is still utilized in Russia. There are many online casino sites in Russia that can be accessed by the citizens.
Factors by which the best online casinos are many but only the most important factors will be selected and named below. These are the decisive factors according to which Russians should search casino sites in Russia.
At a glance, online casinos in Russia will provide you with some of the enormous welcome bonuses in the online gambling industry. While browsing the different Russian platforms, you will realize that each offers a significant joining offer to attract new customers. Of course, this can’t be all that bad, as you will usually be doubling your initial deposit amount with claimable bonus funds that can reach thousands.
In some rare cases, the welcome bonus in a casino can even multiply your deposit more than twice. There is also quite the illusion of freedom created because if you don’t want to fund your account with large sums initially, you can claim a tiny amount in bonus funds to test the particular platform.
However, bonuses like these are now almost extinct in Russian gaming sites because of their consistent losses from them. Generally, the bonuses in Russian online casinos can be exploited. However, you must first carefully review their terms and conditions to ensure they don’t have any unusual rules like low maximum bets, short time limits, or considerably high wagering requirements. If you cannot fulfill these requirements, the bonuses are pretty useless, even as significant as they are.
Here we are mainly looking at software providers and their common video slots in online casinos. Industry leaders such as NetEnt, Microgaming, Quickspin, Yggdrasil, Play N’GO, Push Gaming, BTG, Endorpina, and Thunderkick are especially popular here.
Do not forget about the number of games offered, because the more choice, the more chances to find your favorite game.
Of course, it’s important that you have 24/7 assistance if you have any problems on the casino site in Russia. A good gambling house will have customer support always available 24/7 by phone, email or chat. Also, another important point is that all managers speak and serve their clients in Russian. Then, of course, there is the question of response speed.
With service providers that have a call center or online chat, you will be able to solve your problems in no time and maybe even get rid of additional questions. On the other hand, if you have to wait three days for an email response, you lose the desire to play.
Many people play their casino games on PC but there is an increasing number of people playing via mobile phones. Both options have advantages and disadvantages. For example, in the application, you can often save your favorite games and have the fastest access even if the casino is blocked by the RKN. Also, it is important that the use of an online casino is optimized for mobile devices because you do not need to install the application on every single device.
Therefore, in order for the site to work in all common browsers and for the enjoyment of the game to remain the same everywhere, the casino must be mobile-friendly!
In this category, we are not only looking at the variety of payment methods but of course also how quickly and easily deposits and withdrawals are processed. You should always go for gaming clubs that have proven payment systems for the Russian market in their arsenal.
Popular banking methods among Russian players are WebMoney, Cryptocurrency, e-wallets such as Neteller, Skrill, Qiwi, etc.
Many online casino sites in Russia reward their customers for their loyalty. VIPs, that is, players who play especially often or with especially large amounts of money, have various perks, such as individual bonuses and various prizes. Those bettors who wish to play big and play constantly should always go for casino sites in Russia that offer VIP bonuses.
An average online casino site in Russia offers hundreds of games, including slots, card games, video poker, etc. However, before you start playing at an online casino, make sure you go through the following steps to make your gambling safe and pleasant:
If you’ve already found an ideal gambling site, it’s time to create an account. It is impossible to play in Russia without an account. Then, register by specifying all the required information. As a rule, online casino sites in Russia have a multi-level registration procedure.
Make sure you only specify truthful information as the next step is verification.
Online casinos in Russia tackle fraudulent activity and scammers by paying particular attention to responsible gaming and user identity. All accounts must be verified. This means that the casino administration asks players to provide proof of their true identity to make sure that the customers are real, and that all details specified at registration are true.
As a rule, players need to upload a series of documents to verify their accounts:
Note that if you neglect this requirement and proceed to play at the online casino, you will not be able to withdraw your winnings. The fact is that payment transactions are only approved for verified accounts. Withdrawal requests sent by unverified users are automatically rejected.
While some casino sites in Russia may offer no deposit bonuses for signing up, this is an exception for modern gaming sites. Nowadays, most casinos offer a welcome promotion to make the first deposit. Thus, you should top up your account with a minimum deposit amount to claim the bonus.
After you have credited the money to your gaming account, make sure that the welcome bonus is calculated. Here, note two main things. First of all, study the wagering requirements before making the decision to use the bonus. Wagering Requirements are a set of mandatory requirements that must be met in order for bonus winnings to be withdrawn. Some casinos set their bets so high that it is almost impossible to meet these terms.
Secondly, check if any promotional codes are required. Some websites offer the promotion without a promotional code, while others require you to enter special codes before making the deposit to claim the bonus.
Don’t rush to start playing for real money at the online casino site in Russia. Start your career by playing the games in demo mode. This is the perfect option for newbies. Most casinos offer the option to try the games in a trial version. Thus, beginners can familiarize themselves with the slots, their functionality, gameplay, and features.
Remember that the main thing when starting a gambling career is to take time and avoid fraud. In this case, you will not feel any problems or inconveniences and will enjoy the first step into the world of gambling in Russia.
Every culture prefers some type of a casino game, and while in some countries Teen Patti can be the most popular game, or bingo in some others, Russian gamblers simply love traditional casino games. Those are:
Among the top games are the slot machines, which with their bright colors, the thousand lights, the sounds, and the captivating graphics have for years been among the most popular online games in online casinos. Very popular are slot machines such as progressive slots, characterized by huge payouts. However, there are dozens of different slot machines on the market in Russia. In this case, what matters is luck as skill counts for almost nothing.
Among the most popular games in online casino sites in Russia, there is undoubtedly also blackjack, a combination of skill and luck in which you have to challenge both the dealer and other players. To win, you need to get as close as possible, or even get the total sum of 21, as well as getting a higher value than the dealer. Starting with a card and an initial bet, and then moving on to raises based on the odds offered by the hand.
Talking about luck, the same happens with roulette, which has always been linked to the unique charm of sensational winning, with the anxious wait for the wheel to stop and the ball to magically position itself on the indicated number and color. The success of roulette was aided by countless Hollywood movies, which featured spies, wealthy men, and ordinary people alike winning the bet to the cheers of the table spectators.
Analyzing the data of the online casino sector, it clearly emerges that poker continues to be the most appreciated game by users, undoubtedly the most popular of all not only in Russia but all over the world. Present in different versions, the most famous is certainly the Texas Hold'em variant. Thanks also to the strong promotional push that this card game has received, where skill, experience, and a certain predisposition count.
It is difficult to understand exactly why some games are more popular than others, but it is possible to indicate some reasons. First of all, you need to distinguish those with cards from all the others, since the former directly involve qualities such as experience and skills, while the latter simply requires a good dose of luck. The latter actually makes all users the same, so even a person playing for the first time will have the same chance of winning as a more experienced user.
On the contrary, card games such as poker and blackjack make a certain skill absolutely necessary, which Russians love. For this reason, there are also tournaments based on the level, where depending on the skills of the participants there are more or less high entry and game thresholds. Even using the digital versions of online casinos, when playing blackjack or poker there are two goals, winning the bet and becoming better, so even taking home a loss you can still learn and practice.
This does not happen with virtual machines such as roulette and slot machines where you just need to know the basic rules and the paytable, so the only welcome result is a win. It is no coincidence that such games rely heavily on graphics, to attract Russian users and entice them to prefer this or that machine when both have the same basic functionalities and characteristics.
If online casino sites in Russia give money away then how do they survive? Well, like all casinos, both online and land-based, there is something called “margin”. If we wanted to define with a sentence what the margin is, we could say that the margin is the difference between the odds, representation of an implied probability, offered by the client, and the real probabilities that an event may occur.
In other words, while some gamblers can win money, they will lose money as well. Some are more fortunate than others and will be slightly “in the plus” while others will be slightly “in the minus”. The main source of income for Russian online casinos is the difference between payouts and not giving any money to gamblers. In short, an online casino site in Russia can give back 95% of the total investments back to players, and still have that 5% left. When talking about billions of rubles, that’s a lot.
This is also called RTP, or return to player rate, where players get a percentage of invested money back through playing. Most machines in casino sites in Russia work on RTP percentage and it is of utmost importance to find the machines with the highest RTP. Speaking of RTP, there is also volatility of a particular slot machine. It is the risk associated with it, i.e. what a player can expect from the video slot at the end of the session from the point of view of the frequency of winning and the relative amount of money invested.
| Machine | Developer | RTP | Volatility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramses Book | Gamomat | 96.15% | Medium |
| Dead or Alive II | NetEnt | 96.08% | High |
| Money Train 2 | Relax Gaming | 96.4% | Low |
| Valley of the Gods | Yggdrasil | 96.2% | Medium |
| Hot As Hades | Microgaming | 96.75% | Medium |
| Bridesmaids | Microgaming | 96.71% | Low |
| Thunderstruck II | Microgaming | 96.65% | High |
| Zombies | NetEnt | 97.20% | High |
| Aztec Idols | Play ‘n Go | 96.76% | Medium |
| Easter Eggs | Play ‘n Go | 96.75% | High |
| Spinions | Quickspin | 96.04% | Low |
| Adventures in Wonderland | Playtech | 88.00% | Medium |
| Texas Tea | IGT | 97.35% | Low |
Slot machines hold the lead in terms of popularity among virtual gambling. Fascinating stories, excellent graphics, and the ability to quickly earn money attract Russian users. There are two casino game modes available:
In addition to traditional online reel slot machines, a lot of modern software has been developed: video slots with 3D graphics, the innovative Megaways feature, video poker, etc. Not to mention the live casino online, which opened a new page in the history of gambling. The gamer can watch the game in real-time, place bets, win real money and his opponent is a real croupier.
At online casino sites in Russia, the best RTP rate have slot machines and then roulette. Card games return much less money to players but the winnings can be quite higher.
Thanks to casino sites in Russia with welcome bonuses, users of a particular site can take advantage of the products offered (casino, live casino, poker, etc.) with discounts compared to the amount initially deposited and available on the gaming account. An example of a casino bonus is the one that allows you to double your initial deposit (for example, you deposit 1000 rubles and you find yourself playing with actual 2000 rubles).
Another classic casino bonus that can be found in Russia is the so-called “welcome casino bonus”, which is reserved for players who register for the first time on a site. However, there are also offers not directly related to reloadings, such as no deposit casino bonuses or cashback bonuses that will be explained below.
No deposit casino bonuses are now a fairly common offer among the best online casino sites in Russia. As you can guess from the name itself, this is a promotion where you don’t need to deposit funds to get a bonus to play.
The only requirement to access this type of bonus is to register with the casino site in Russia as a new player and validate your account by sending a copy of one or more identity documents in order to complete the identification process correctly.
Whenever you find in an online casino site in Russia the words “free bonus” or “no deposit”, it means that you will be able to receive a free bonus on registration with which to play and win.
This welcome bonus is an unmissable offer among the best casino sites in Russia. Usually, before you can receive this promotion you need to register on the casino site and deposit a certain minimum amount. A typical example of a welcome offer is that of the casino registration bonus of 100% on the first deposit, up to a maximum amount established from time to time by the operator site.
In other cases, the best Russian online gaming sites may offer not a simple casino welcome bonus but even a “package” of deposit bonuses applicable to a certain number of top-ups after the first one.
Any self-respecting online casino in Russia will always offer a certain number of Free Spins as a form of bonus on slots. Some operators may offer Free Spins as part of a welcome bonus or, alternatively, create an ad hoc promotion to incentivize users to try a particular online slot machine.
Free Spin bonuses work differently. This can be a fixed or variable number of spins offered by the online casino with bonuses, on a specific slot, or on a package of slot machines developed by the same supplier software house.
Once the free spins have ended, any resulting winnings can be withdrawn upon completion of the betting conditions. Sometimes, during Free Spins, it will also be possible to unlock special features of a slot or even receive additional Free Spins.
Reload bonuses are very similar to welcome bonuses, but you don’t need to be a new user as soon as you register on the site to get them. As the name indicates, like the welcome bonus, this bonus indicates an incentive on an amount already deposited, but in this case, it is an offer open to all registered users.
Usually, casino deposit bonuses are not as generous as to welcome bonuses, but they can still beef up our gaming account or enhance the gaming experience by offering the ability to play longer than you would with your deposited balance alone.
Cashbacks, also known as refund bonuses, are a fundamental part of any player-casino relationship in Russia. In fact, they are real insurance against losses. In most cases, the offer will be a bonus consisting of a fixed percentage of an amount lost, for example, over a certain period of time or on a certain game.
The online casino sites in Russia offer promotions that can be daily, weekly or monthly and are highly variable depending on the “value” the player has for the site. Users with high VIP levels, for example, will certainly be able to enjoy, among others, benefits that affect the percentage of Cashback received.
Some online casino sites in Russia with welcome bonuses have specific offers for those who use their smartphone to register, to make a deposit, or play. This is usually done to let users know about their apps.
Generally, mobile casino bonuses offer low-value amounts, as an extra to the normal welcome bonus or, alternatively, as an active promotion for all users. There are rare, but not non-existent cases in which a Russian online casino decides to offer an exclusive welcome bonus for mobile devices.
On these occasions, to obtain the mobile casino offer it is necessary to use only the smartphone with the operator’s app installed. Playing from the computer, the bonus would not be released.
Among the many offers of online gaming sites in Russia, we also find bonuses for the live casino. The operators who give a lot of space to this section often also offer ad hoc welcome bonuses, to be spent on the casino live.
The live casino welcome bonuses are not numerous, but often interesting. The rollover of these offers varies according to the welcome bonus of the casinos that offer it: some Russian operators present real bonuses (albeit of reduced value) to try new games, others have more stringent wagering requirements but higher bonus amounts.
Then we find live casino bonuses also offered to users already registered on the portal, released after a deposit or when a new game is launched live. Again, the live casino bonus amount is usually small.
In addition to the best casino welcome bonuses offered upon registration in Russia, we also find promotions dedicated to all members on the gaming site. Typically, these bonuses can be redeemed on the launch of a new slot or on a special occasion, such as the casino birthday bonus.
These online casino offers are usually redeemed within the area dedicated to site promotions, but there is no shortage of personalized offers sent, for example, via email. Their value is usually reduced compared to that of a welcome bonus, but should not be underestimated for this.
Finally, we cannot forget the special promotions, offered only by some operators in Russia, which result in very special prizes, not directly linked to the gaming world or to the casino experience. In fact, we are talking about trips or technological gifts, or even cash prizes or gifts.
After all, who wouldn’t want a nice trip to Las Vegas or a vacation in the Caribbean? Obviously, however, these are not prizes for everyone but intended only for the most important players of the best online casino sites in Russia.
Online casino payment methods can be grouped into several main categories: bank cards, e-wallets, prepaid cards and vouchers, mobile payment systems, bank transfers and cryptocurrency. When gambling in Russia, it is advised to connect several different payment methods at once. In this case, you will always have a choice when making a deposit to the game account or when withdrawing winnings.
For example, you can replenish your account from an electronic wallet, and withdraw your winnings using another payment system, using those casino payment methods that are convenient for you at the moment. But before you start playing, you should make sure that the deposit method you choose is also presented in the withdrawal options, and, of course, in Russia. It is not always the case that the same payment system is available in both options.
Some payment systems fall under several categories at once. For example, ecoPayz is an electronic wallet that can also be used as a prepaid card. The difference between ecoPayz and another prepaid method like Neosurf is that you need to register with ecoPayz before you can use it (registration is free). After registration, you will be able to freely use prepaid and e-wallet services.
Below we have listed the popular casino payment methods in Russia according to their main categories, but as you have already understood from the example above, some payment systems can be presented in several categories at once.
✅ Cryptocurrency as a Payment Method – The global trend in payment systems is the use of cryptocurrencies for their transfers. It is this payment method that every year involves an increasing number of users, Russia included. Almost all e-wallets already accept transfers via the blockchain. In this regard, online casinos are not left out. Every day the list of casinos accepting cryptocurrency is replenished with new establishments.
The top 5 cryptocurrencies in Russian online casinos are:
You can argue for a long time about how reliable cryptocurrencies are, but the growing statistics speak for themselves. It has already been proven that crypto payments are fast, reliable, and confidential. It is these key factors that are the main ones when choosing a method of replenishing an account in an online casino.
What Is the Best Payment Option for Russian Players?
Bank cards are one of the most popular online casino payment methods all over the world, including countries such as Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan. Bank transfers are one of the easiest ways to deposit and withdraw winnings. But it often happens that those who used bank transfers in the past can easily switch to other casino payment methods, such as Neteller, Wire Transfer, or Skrill.
It is legal only in Kaliningrad, Altai, Primorsky, and Krasnodar regions. Everywhere else the gambling is illegal.
There are many illegal casino sites in Russia and therefore new players should pay close attention to where they are registering. To avoid any troubles, always go with licensed and certified casino sites in Russia.
Sports betting is safe and legal in Russia when done at legal and authorized betting sites. As there are some fraud betting sites, one can’t be too careful.
Betting limits are decided by online casino sites in Russia and they can vary. If you want to bet as a high-roller, it is always recommended to go for legal casino sites that offer high deposit limits.
Yes. Russian bettors should pay a yearly tax of 13% on all winnings throughout the year.
Withdrawal limits depend on both the online casino site and your preferred payment methods. It can range from minutes to days. Always go with the fastest withdrawal limits possible.
Picking one single best casino site is impossible as many people have different tastes and needs. Bearing that in mind, the best casino site in Russia will be the one that suits your needs. Always make sure that it is legal, certified, provides great gambling options, and great support.
As Russian bettors can access a variety of casino sites, there is no limit to casino games. Russians can therefore enjoy classics such as poker, blackjack, slots, roulette, craps, but also sports betting, horse racing, bingo, and many other games.
As Russian bettors can access a variety of casino sites, there is no limit to casino games. Russians can therefore enjoy classics such as poker, blackjack, slots, roulette, craps, but also sports betting, horse racing, bingo, and many other games.
Free spins are available at some casino sites in Russia, whether as part of welcome or promotional bonuses.
There are three ways of receiving the sign-up bonus – you either receive it automatically upon registration; you need to deposit the money first; or you need to enter a special promo code. Which option will it be depends on a casino site.
When it comes to casino games and poker, Russia has a serious problem with gambling addiction. Be that as it may, not much help is offered. It would be best to consult your family members or ask a professional psychiatrist for help.
🔎 Looking for betting sites? Here are the best betting sites in Russia.
