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Betting in Belarus

Published on: 30/11/2015

In 1991, following the end of the Cold War, the landlocked Eastern European country of Belarus achieved independence from the Soviet Union. The republic is governed from the capital of Minsk and now boasts a population in excess of 10 million.

In Belarus, most of the legalised gambling facilities are to be found in the capital city. The government has authorised 32 legal casinos in Belarus, 27 of those are located in the capital, of which a further seven are operated by Club Admiral.

The Juravinca Princess Casino is the country’s biggest betting venue boasting a gaming hall of 7,530 square feet. The hall features a bar and hotel which is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The venue has a selection of gaming tables and over 70 games machines with poker, blackjack and roulette being especially in demand.

Vitebsk, Gomel and Brest each have a casino while Hrodna, which is located near to the borders with Lithuania and Poland, has two further betting venues. The casinos are frequented by local people but also attract visitors from Russia, Latvia and Ukraine. The gambling facilities are only available to customers aged 18 or over.

Many live gaming tables use the US Dollar as their main currency. In order to play, players must purchase dollar chips using the local currency and then cash-in their chips once they have finished. The casino makes a small commission charge for each of these transactions. There are now many government-approved gambling businesses that provide lottery products in Belarus at local and national level. Lottery tickets can be purchased very easily and many gambling establishments sell tickets on behalf of the Belarusian National Sports Lottery (also known as Superloto). The Superloto is the only gambling business with an official licence to trade online.

The Ministry of Sports and Tourism ensure assistance is available should punters need help and advice. There is support with regards to signing up, account queries and payment transactions – many even provide instructions in English. Winnings are paid outright through the Superloto website. All lottery winnings are free from tax in the Republic of Belarus and foreigners can collect their windfalls in other currencies as well as Rubles. There are no official bookies in Belarus, however local punters still place bets on popular global events via sportsbooks online,

Well known betting companies that are happy to provide online gambling services to punters in Belarus include:

In an attempt to curb money laundering punters are now required to show identification when collecting prizes. Belarus has introduced tougher restraints and has taken steps with regard to regulating the country’s betting industry. Since 2005, rigorous tax guidelines have also been imposed on gambling companies.

President Alexander Lukashenko has been vocal in his opposition to fraud and unlawful activity within the gambling industry. In 2010, the he proposed that greater gambling controls be introduced in order to increase state revenues. And a year later, with tourism expected to rise due to stricter gambling rules in Russia, the Belarussian government revealed plans for a $1 billion gambling complex close to the national airport.