Belarus mulls online gambling legalisation

The Belarus Ministry of Taxes and Duties has unveiled a draft decree that calls for the legalisation and regulation of the online gambling market.

The decree predominantly centres on tightening up land-based casino regulations, but adds provisos for the introduction of a licencing and taxation regime for online gambling within as little as two years.

It calls for a two-year transitional period following the adoption of the decree by the Belarusian government, when online operators will be able to conduct online gambling activities, subject to a special “maintenance of a virtual gambling establishment” permit.

This permit effectively allows the operator to conduct online gambling subject to the operator adjusting their operations to fit the as-yet unknown licencing and taxation standards when the regulatory regime is fully established.

Among those land-based proposals included in the decree are the increasing of the current age limit to enter a casino from 18 to 21 and prohibiting individuals visiting both land-based and online gambling venues from providing money (electronic money) or their equivalent (chips, tokens, etc.) to other visitors to participate in gambling.

Belarus Minister of Taxes and Duties Sergei Nalyvayko confirmed that no changes would be made to the current fixed gambling taxation rate of 4% for the duration of the transitional period.

Nalyvayko added: “At this stage, considering the planned legalization of online gambling and additional investments needed to organize a new type of activity in the gambling business, the Ministry of Taxes and Taxes does not plan any changes in the taxation policy of this activity.”