The Armenian parliament has cleared some of its toughest restrictions yet on online casino participation after lawmakers approved a new package of gambling reforms aimed at tackling addiction, limiting financial harm, and protecting vulnerable groups from excessive gambling.
The country’s National Assembly on 17 June 2026 adopted amendments to the law “On the Regulation of Gambling Activities” and several related pieces of legislation in their second and final reading. The reforms come amid growing concern over the rapid expansion of online gambling in Armenia, where betting activity has surged dramatically over the past decade.
The legislation was introduced by Hayk Sargsyan, a member of parliament from the ruling Civil Contract faction, who argued that online gambling has evolved into a major social challenge.
According to Sargsyan, the volume of bets placed through online casinos has increased more than 35-fold in just eight years. He noted that annual betting volumes rose from around 0.2 trillion drams ($520 million) in 2017 to approximately 7.4 trillion drams ($19.2 billion) in 2025.
Sargsyan said the growth has left many citizens struggling with gambling-related problems, pointing to concerns that easy round-the-clock access to online casinos is contributing to addiction and financial hardship.
Mandatory self-inclusion introduced
A key element of the new legislation is the introduction of a mandatory self-exclusion system across all online gambling platforms. Under the reforms, online casinos in Armenia will be required to display a clearly visible self-blocking button on their websites and mobile applications.
Anyone who chooses to use the self-blocking option will be locked out of online gambling for five years. The ban cannot be reversed during that period and will automatically continue for another five years unless the individual asks for it to be removed shortly before it expires.
Importantly, the restriction will not be limited to a single gambling website. The aim is to ensure that self-excluded players cannot simply move to another online casino and continue gambling elsewhere, making the measure more effective for those trying to step away from betting.
Lawmakers have also proposed additional safeguards targeting groups considered financially vulnerable. The reforms would prohibit online gambling participation for recipients of social benefits, individuals whose primary source of income is a state pension, people undergoing bankruptcy proceedings, and participants in subsidy programmes funded or co-financed by the government.
Another notable provision introduces an affordability measure linked to declared income. Under the proposal, an individual’s online gambling activity would be capped at 20 per cent of their annual declared income.
Enforcement from 1 January 2027
Supporters of the reforms say the measures are intended to curb excessive gambling and help prevent people from falling into debt while trying to win back previous losses. The changes form part of a wider effort by Armenian authorities to tighten oversight of online gambling, a sector that has grown rapidly in recent years as internet access and smartphone use have become more widespread.
Implementation of the new framework is expected to begin on 1 January 2027. Before then, authorities plan to appoint a dedicated gaming operator to administer and enforce key elements of the system, with the selection process expected around the middle of next year.
If implemented as planned, the reforms will mark one of the most significant overhauls of Armenia’s online gambling regulations in recent years, placing player protection and harm prevention at the centre of the country’s regulatory approach.
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