Russians Spend Nearly Two Trillion Rubles a Year on Betting

Ivan Chebeskov, Deputy Finance Minister of Russia, reported that Russian citizens spend around two trillion rubles (around $13 billion) each year with bookmaker companies. He presented the figures during a session of the Federation Council Committee on Economic Policy. Concerns Over Allocation of Household Funds Chebeskov emphasized that these financial resources could serve alternative purposes, including investments and measures aimed at improving household welfare. He added that, according to Finance Ministry estimates, approximately ninety percent of the legal bookmaker market now operates transparently, while illegal gambling platforms remain a serious concern. Illegal Online Casinos Under Scrutiny The deputy minister noted that expenditures in illegal online casinos may even exceed spending within the regulated betting sector. He described the expansion of unauthorized gambling services as one of the most pressing challenges, citing their ability to actively attract consumer funds.