Only Three Russian Banks Are Implementing New Transaction Blocking Laws Against Unlicensed Operators
By Brian Cullingworth, Last updated Nov 2, 2018
Other banks await the Federal Tax Service offical blacklist of illegal gambling websites
Whilst Russian telecoms regulator Roscomnadzor may be wielding the online casino ban hammer with enthusiasm (tens of thousands of domains are on its blacklist) it appears that some Russian banks are content to await an official list from the Federal Tax Service before halting transactions with foreign entities.
That’s the gist of local media reports from Russia this week that claim that only three of the country’s major banks – Sberbank, VTB and Tinkoff – are observing new laws passed on May this year prohibiting banks from processing transactions for foreign gambling companies.
Other banks and financial institutions are taking a more cautious and considered approach, apparently awaiting official blacklisting communications and lists from the Federal Tax Service despite overarching legislation which effectively renders all foreign gambling companies accessing Russian punters without a Russian licence illegal.
Infopowa news was a staple of Casinomeister’s news from 2000 until 2019. Brian Cullingworth was the main writer, contributor, and was one of the most knowledgeable persons I have ever known involved in the online casino industry.
We first met in January 2001 at the ICE in London where I observed him going booth to booth interviewing online casino, software, and licensing jurisdiction representatives. Brian was also heavily involved with our forum as “Jetset“, he was involved as an informal consultant to eCOGRA, the OPA, and was a player advocate who assisted countless aggrieved players with his connections to industry folks. He also published “Casino Cautions” via Infopowa news for quite a number of years. These can be found in our news archives.
His passing in February 2019 was a dark day for us. He will be forever missed.
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