GAMBLING IN RUSSIA: POLICIES, MARKETS, AND RESEARCH.

This paper provides an overview of Russian gambling market, policies, and research. Following a series of legal reforms since 2006, the Russian gambling market context has become highly restrictive but gradually expanding. The National Lottery and bookmaking industries are increasingly popular but online gambling remains prohibited and casino and electronic gambling machines are only allowed in gambling zones located in remote corners of the Russian Federation. The illegal markets remain significant. The Federal state has been regaining control over the gambling markets to align regulation and profitability, but the new market environment has also created financial interests among private corporations as well as regional treasuries. Research on problem gambling is also becoming more established, although no prevalence studies on gambling problems have been conducted. The paper concludes by considering needs for further policy attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]