Poll results: Russian egaming question divides industry

Egaming operators are at odds over the appropriate action to take regarding stakes derived from Russia-based players with only a third saying it was correct to withdraw from the market, according respondents to this week’s eGaming Review poll.

This week we asked what action, if any, operators should take regarding Russian derived business following recent attempts by authorities in the country to clamp down on those it considers to be in breach of its strict gambling laws.

The country’s telecommunications authority was last month given the power to block websites without a court order and new penalties for gambling operators found to operating without a licence in the country face fines of up to RUB1m and a potential prison sentence of up to two years.

Last week Ladbrokes confirmed Russia was one of four jurisdictions it was to withdraw from on the back of legal advice, and 34% of respondents to this week’s poll backed its approach, considering a complete withdrawal from the country to be the best plan of action.

However, 37% of readers took the opposite view and regard Russia as a legitimate grey market, something recent regulatory changes in the country appear to have not changed.

The remaining 29% of respondents believe that operators should play the situation carefully and adopt a wait and see approach, scaling back on marketing in anticipation of further legislative changes that may have a more significant impact on the market’s legality.