FTS signed a contract for the development of an IT control system for online casinos

The Federal Tax Service (FTS) of Russia has signed a contract worth ₽63 million to strengthen control over the activities of online casinos. Information about this appeared on the public procurement portal in September 2024.

According to Izvestia, the purpose of the contract is to gain access to an information and analytical system designed to counter illegal gambling and lotteries on the Internet. The winner of the tender was Incident Center, which undertakes to provide the necessary software and technical support until 2025.

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According to the documentation posted on the public procurement portal, the system will be used by the Federal Tax Service to exercise the authority to identify suspicious web resources, conduct their examination for violation of the law, as well as to restrict access to sites that violate the established requirements.

This step of the Federal Tax Service is aimed at combating the illegal segment of gambling in Russia. According to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the turnover of the illegal gambling market in the country is about ₽300 billion, which is equivalent to 25% of the volume of the legal segment. The shadow market is predominantly represented by online casinos, sports sweepstakes and illegal online betting resources.

The problem of illegal gambling attracts the attention of not only regulatory authorities, but also lawmakers. In the State Duma, a group of deputies plans to start developing a bill during the autumn session aimed at banning the promotion of bookmakers in the Russian Federation.

The implementation of this contract by the Federal Tax Service is part of complex measures aimed at increasing the effectiveness of control over gambling business in the Internet space and protecting the interests of the state and citizens from illegal activities in the field of gambling.^[1]

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