Belarus set for online gaming

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has given the green light to online gaming by signing a game-changing decree in the Eastern European country.

Belarusian news outlet BeITA reported that the law will allow operators to launch online casinos with certain conditions.

Last month, the country’s Minister of Taxes and Levies, Sergei Nalivaiko, put forward the bill in the latest effort to legalise and regulate online gaming.

Crucially, the minimum age for online gambling would be 21, rather than 18, with identity checks required for online casinos.

Operators will have to deposit funds into a designated account that will be used to cover any winnings or taxes that would be due if the venture collapses.

The country’s tax authorities will also keep a close eye on the operators through a special payment system that will allow transactions to be monitored.

Casinos would also have to install surveillance cameras, while punters would not be allowed to lend money to other gamblers.

The timeframe for the full introduction of the new law has not been confirmed.

In December Belarus opted to legalise cryptocurrencies, ICOs and smart contracts amid reports of wider regulation.

Picture Credit: Nuno Godinho