Russia Suggests Five Percent Levy on Gambling Wagers

(MENAFN) The Russian Finance Ministry has proposed imposing a 5% levy on all gambling stakes as part of a fresh budget plan.

The ministry also noted that bookmakers would continue paying a profit tax at the standard 25% rate.

This move is part of a wider package of fiscal reforms in Russia designed to increase non-energy revenue to fund government spending.

In its 2026–2028 draft budget, the Finance Ministry recommended raising the general value-added tax from the current 20% to 22%, while retaining a 10% reduced rate for essential goods, the ministry stated on Wednesday.

Currently, bookmakers are subject to a fixed regional gambling tax that differs by location. The ministry argued that this “does not reflect the scale of turnover or the real financial result” of their operations.

Under the proposed system, taxation would be based on both turnover (via the suggested 5% levy) and profits under the regular corporate tax regime, replacing the fixed-fee method.

Gambling in Russia remains tightly regulated and limited to specific zones and licensed operators. Outside these areas, generally only sports betting and lotteries are permitted.

The draft budget is under review by both the government and parliament and could be revised before final adoption.

Officials have also recently debated reducing on-site inspections for licensed gambling operators in favor of preventive oversight.

Industry analysts estimate that legal gambling zones generated approximately 2.6 billion rubles ($28 million) in tax revenue in 2024.

At the same time, authorities shut down 195 illegal clubs during the first half of 2025.

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