What will change for unlicensed online gaming sites in Armenia starting in February 2027? 5 questions
08.09.2026,
16:09
Starting February 8, 2027, an updated mechanism for restricting access to foreign gaming websites operating outside the country's established regulatory system is to be implemented in Armenia.
YEREVAN, September 8. /ARKA/. Starting February 8, 2027, an updated mechanism for restricting access to foreign gaming websites operating outside the country's established regulatory system is to be implemented in Armenia. According to the RA State Revenue Committee, the changes include blocking access through telecom operators and restrictions on advertising for such resources.
The SRC emphasizes that the new regulations are not aimed at restricting legal gaming activities. According to the agency, their goal is to improve the effectiveness of the regulatory system, protect the licensed market, and ensure a level playing field.
ARKA-Telecom explains the key points in five questions.
1. Which websites will be subject to restrictions?
The Law "On Regulation of Gaming Activities" prohibits providing opportunities to participate in gaming activities organized in foreign countries through websites accessible in Armenia.
The law separately establishes a criterion for gaming activities through an interactive platform: it is considered organized in a foreign country if the organizer's information resources are not located in the ".AM" domain zone.
In explaining the upcoming changes, the State Revenue Committee primarily refers to websites of foreign organizations operating without an appropriate Armenian license. The agency cites the dissemination of services and advertising of such companies in the Armenian internet space as one of the reasons for strengthening this mechanism.
2. Who is considered an unlicensed operator?
The State Revenue Committee's clarification primarily refers to foreign organizers of gaming activities that do not have the appropriate license established by Armenian law.
However, the law itself uses a broader definition of gaming activities organized in a foreign country. For interactive gaming platforms, this criterion is the location of information resources outside the ".AM" domain zone.
Therefore, the term "unlicensed websites" should be understood in the context of the regime the State Revenue Committee describes for foreign operators, and not as a universal definition of any unlicensed website.
3. How will access be restricted?
Blocking should be carried out not by the user or the website owner, but by the operators of public electronic communications networks providing internet access services.
Websites will be blocked based on a special list. This list is approved by the head of the regulatory body based on the findings of an interdepartmental commission identifying websites subject to blocking.
Furthermore, after the list is approved, the regulatory body must submit it to the Central Bank of Armenia for restriction, in accordance with the procedure established by law, on the receipt and transfer of funds through such websites for the purpose of organizing gambling activities.
In other words, the mechanism provides for two levels: restriction of access to the website and restrictions related to payments made through it.
4. What will change for advertising?
The law prohibits advertising websites that provide the opportunity to participate in gambling activities organized in foreign countries, both within Armenia and on the internet accessible within the country.
The State Revenue Committee attributes the need for stronger regulation, among other things, to the spread of advertising for foreign gaming organizations' services in the Armenian internet segment and states that the new mechanism provides for restrictions on the distribution of advertising for unlicensed resources.
Therefore, this not only addresses the possibility of opening a gaming website from Armenia, but also the promotion of such resources to an Armenian audience.
5. Will the new rules affect licensed companies?
According to the State Revenue Committee, the new regulations do not restrict legal gaming activities. The agency states that the changes are aimed at increasing the effectiveness of licensing, protecting the legal market, and creating a level playing field by restricting the activities of foreign resources operating outside the established regulatory system.
At the same time, organizers operating in Armenia must also comply with the requirements of the new law "On the Regulation of Gaming Activities." For previously issued licenses, the law provides for a transition period to bring their activities into compliance with the requirements of the new regulation.
Why February 8, 2027?
The Law "On the Regulation of Gaming Activities" was adopted in 2024, but a significant portion of its provisions will not come into effect on the date of the law's adoption, but rather upon the launch of a special operator for the regulatory system.
Transitional provisions stipulate that the majority of the regulations will come into effect the day following the expiration of six months from the date the operator is designated.
The State Revenue Committee has set February 8, 2027, as the start date for the updated blocking mechanism.
The SRC emphasizes that the new regulations are not aimed at restricting legal gaming activities. According to the agency, their goal is to improve the effectiveness of the regulatory system, protect the licensed market, and ensure a level playing field.
ARKA-Telecom explains the key points in five questions.
1. Which websites will be subject to restrictions?
The Law "On Regulation of Gaming Activities" prohibits providing opportunities to participate in gaming activities organized in foreign countries through websites accessible in Armenia.
The law separately establishes a criterion for gaming activities through an interactive platform: it is considered organized in a foreign country if the organizer's information resources are not located in the ".AM" domain zone.
In explaining the upcoming changes, the State Revenue Committee primarily refers to websites of foreign organizations operating without an appropriate Armenian license. The agency cites the dissemination of services and advertising of such companies in the Armenian internet space as one of the reasons for strengthening this mechanism.
2. Who is considered an unlicensed operator?
The State Revenue Committee's clarification primarily refers to foreign organizers of gaming activities that do not have the appropriate license established by Armenian law.
However, the law itself uses a broader definition of gaming activities organized in a foreign country. For interactive gaming platforms, this criterion is the location of information resources outside the ".AM" domain zone.
Therefore, the term "unlicensed websites" should be understood in the context of the regime the State Revenue Committee describes for foreign operators, and not as a universal definition of any unlicensed website.
3. How will access be restricted?
Blocking should be carried out not by the user or the website owner, but by the operators of public electronic communications networks providing internet access services.
Websites will be blocked based on a special list. This list is approved by the head of the regulatory body based on the findings of an interdepartmental commission identifying websites subject to blocking.
Furthermore, after the list is approved, the regulatory body must submit it to the Central Bank of Armenia for restriction, in accordance with the procedure established by law, on the receipt and transfer of funds through such websites for the purpose of organizing gambling activities.
In other words, the mechanism provides for two levels: restriction of access to the website and restrictions related to payments made through it.
4. What will change for advertising?
The law prohibits advertising websites that provide the opportunity to participate in gambling activities organized in foreign countries, both within Armenia and on the internet accessible within the country.
The State Revenue Committee attributes the need for stronger regulation, among other things, to the spread of advertising for foreign gaming organizations' services in the Armenian internet segment and states that the new mechanism provides for restrictions on the distribution of advertising for unlicensed resources.
Therefore, this not only addresses the possibility of opening a gaming website from Armenia, but also the promotion of such resources to an Armenian audience.
5. Will the new rules affect licensed companies?
According to the State Revenue Committee, the new regulations do not restrict legal gaming activities. The agency states that the changes are aimed at increasing the effectiveness of licensing, protecting the legal market, and creating a level playing field by restricting the activities of foreign resources operating outside the established regulatory system.
At the same time, organizers operating in Armenia must also comply with the requirements of the new law "On the Regulation of Gaming Activities." For previously issued licenses, the law provides for a transition period to bring their activities into compliance with the requirements of the new regulation.
Why February 8, 2027?
The Law "On the Regulation of Gaming Activities" was adopted in 2024, but a significant portion of its provisions will not come into effect on the date of the law's adoption, but rather upon the launch of a special operator for the regulatory system.
Transitional provisions stipulate that the majority of the regulations will come into effect the day following the expiration of six months from the date the operator is designated.
The State Revenue Committee has set February 8, 2027, as the start date for the updated blocking mechanism.