Gambling in Russia has been turbulent since 2007 after several federal laws came into effect. Their impact on the industry was notably strong, and now online casinos are banned and sports betting sites closely regulated. It is no wonder that avid gamblers are in search of legit alternatives.
Russian crypto gambling sites are the ideal solution. Transactions via blockchains are much harder to block & restrict, and Russians have always been more crypto-savvy than other countries. With the help of private wallets and offshore exchanges, you can gain access to quality gambling products and avoid the unfair 13% on betting wins. Stay tuned to learn more.
We have researched and compiled the safest online casinos that accept anonymous crypto payments from Russian players. Moreover, the websites can be set in the local language and most of them even offer dedicated Russian-speaking support agents. Check their Bonuses & Offers and grab what you like best. Our in-depth best crypto casino reviews will also help you get started.
Let’s start a bit further back in time. Gambling was officially banned in 1928 as the communist party deemed the activity incompatible with socialist ideals and that it was a degenerate pastime of the elite. So, gambling was only restricted to illegal safehouses or just private premises. Casino rooms were also available in specific hotels but only for tourists.
After the USSR’s dissolution and the following socioeconomic changes, gambling surged as it was no longer considered an illegal activity. However, from the early to mid-2000s, a series of regulations were introduced.
These ended with brick-and-mortar establishments being legal only in five designated gambling zones near key border areas of Russia. Online casinos are totally banned. Land-based and online sports betting is legal, but companies need to acquire a license from Russia’s federal service for supervision of communications, information technology and mass media (Роскомнадзор). Betslip wins from such licensed brands are taxed at 13%.
All betting-related transactions need to go through a national payments system called TSUPIS, regardless of the Fiat method one uses. As you can understand, it is heavily monitored. The country’s ISPs are also quick to ban access to the more popular unlicensed online casinos. As you'd expect, no crypto gambling regulation exists, which makes crypto brands harder to restrict and a perfect alternative.
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Anonymous gambling sites
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Provably fair casinos
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Russian Bitcoin Gambling Facts
1
Online casinos are completely banned in Russia
2
Sports Betting Wins are taxed at 13%
3
All transacstions with licensed bookies are monitored with TSUPIS
4
Crypto transactions are impossible to restrict completely
Safe Crypto Sports Betting Sites in Russia
Unlike online casinos, which are banned, Russian bettors can find plenty of reliable & regulated local bookmakers. But they have some important flaws. First, they do not accept cryptos, all payments are monitored, and KYC is required. Moreover, all your winnings will get immediately taxed at 13%, which will significantly damage your bankroll over time.
Our fully tested Russian crypto sports betting sites completely override these disadvantages. And what’s more, their top-notch odds and bonuses will help you gain a significant edge compared to the local competition. Make sure to check them out below.
Not only is it possible, but it’s a betting section where our recommendations truly shine. Esports and cryptocurrencies share a bit of the same fanbases, so most crypto bookies regularly sponsor esports teams and events.
The number of markets and odds are commonly better than those of traditional sportsbooks, and so we fully recommend them. Russian players, who are known esports players & fans, will certainly appreciate Bitcoin esports betting on such platforms.
What regular markets are offered by crypto sportsbooks in Russia
On the traditional sports side of things, there are not many differences. Bettors will easily find hundreds of markets for the top local and foreign football leagues, ice-hockey, basketball and volleyball. Most bookies offer more than 1,000 live events per day, and odds can reach up to 98% in popular betting options.
It is undoubtedly hard at the moment for Russians to acquire a crypto bankroll for depositing to Russian casino sites. The government maintains a hostile stance against digital currencies, and several international exchanges limit access or services to Russian citizens. However, the decentralized nature of blockchain-based currencies means they can not ever be completely restricted.
Companies like Binance and Bybit may offer P2P services that can not be geographically blocked. Bestchange is also a legitimate alternative, along with Telegram’s wallet. After acquiring a bankroll, only rely on Decentralized exchanges. However, it’s important to be extremely careful and avoid extensive KYC. Be wary of scam services as well.
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Start an account at a crypto exchange. Fund it via debit card, bank transfer or any other local option. Acquire the cryptocurrency that you are going to use as a gambling bankroll.
2
If you are not in a hurry, limit orders hold fewer fees than market orders. Sometimes, it is better to acquire the proprietary coin of the exchange first, as trading pairs with them cost less.
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Transfer the cryptocurrency amount to your private wallet. Never make direct transactions between crypto exchanges & crypto gambling sites. Crypto exchanges may freeze such accounts.
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Head over to the gambling site’s cashier section. Click on the relevant crypto method. The wallet’s address will appear. Copy the address and paste it into your wallet’s send function. QR code scans are commonly available too.
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If a brand does not support crypto-only wallets, watch out for the exchange rate. Any spread above 1% of the current market rate is too much.
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After a few seconds or minutes, your deposit will settle. This depends on the cryptocurrency and the number of block confirmations required by the operator.
Crypto payments to Russian online sportsbooks are banned, along with online casinos. As such, there is no crypto gambling tax to worry about. But you should not declare any gambling wins made with crypto deposits.
Also, officially, at the time of writing, you have to declare your wallet balances to fiscal authorities if the transaction volume exceeds 600,000 rubles. Avoid doing so if you can not prove that these transactions do not originate from gambling actions.
We recommend you stick exclusively to peer-to-peer platforms and decentralized exchanges. Keep your funds in multiple private wallets and never convert a large chunk of bankroll to rubles or other Fiat currencies. If possible, never move a single cent to Russian banks or other financial institutions that report to the local authorities.
How other countries treat crypto gambling
Just because Russia has chosen a more aggressive stance against online gambling, it doesn't mean this happens outside the borders too. For example, crypto online casinos in Serbia have become increasingly popular after the regulation of digital currencies. In a more grey scenario, Indian crypto gambling sites take advantage of the government's passive approach and give players a legitimate solution to the unclear regulations.
*Remember, this is meant to be a general overview of the current fiscal situation. Contact a tax professional for your financial inquiries, as errors may lead to significant losses & potential fines. We are not financial advisors.
Gambling with cryptocurrencies in Russia is admittedly not the easiest thing to do nowadays. But it is essential if you want to join the best casinos and place tax-free betslips avoiding the 13% fee.
Furthermore, cryptos will let you be free from TSUPI’s tight grip, regaining precious privacy. If you keep a low profile and don’t transfer winnings to local banks, you will hardly face any issues, so don’t hesitate and check our recommendations to elevate your sessions to a whole new level
FAQs
At the time of writing the situation is very fluid. US-based exchanges like Kraken and Binance have fully withdrawn from the Russian market, but others like Binance and Bybit may offer limited products. However, peer-to-peer sites like Bestchange and decentralized exchanges are fully available.
To put it briefly, crypto income tax taxes cash flows that could be considered income (salary, rent, services) while crypto personal assets tax is more about crypto investments (holding coins).
No, online sportsbooks licensed from Roskomnadzor are not allowed to accept digital currencies for deposits and withdrawals.
Yes, all our recommended brands you will find have Welcome Bonuses for players who live in Russia.