Russian bill to simplify player identification process heads to upper parliament

The Russian State Duma has passed its third reading of a bill that simplifies the player identification process that required for them to place online bets.

The document eliminates provisions that require double identification of online gamblers - both by a bookmaker and by a centre processing online bets (TSUPIS).

According to the document, bookies will be granted the right to delegate the identification of their new online players directly to TSUPIS.

A note accompanying the document said that "the complex, multi-step identification process is incomprehensible to the gambler, in some cases unfeasible, encourages players to search for ways to overcome government measures aimed at combating illegal gambling business in order to gain access to foreign sites subjected to blocking.”

The move has been welcomed by Russian bookmakers, with Betcity representative and member of the First self-regulating organization of bookmakers Nikolay Oganezov predicting that it may lead to up to five percent increase in punters placing e-bets with legal bookmakers by the end of 2019 and up to 15 percent by the end of 2020.

The bill is yet to be passed by the upper chamber of the Russian parliament, the Federation Council, before being signed into law by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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