Armenia has amended its laws related to gambling and advertisement. As per the new regulations, only the local gambling operator will be allowed to advertise in the country.

An additional requirement is that gambling advertising should be targeted at citizens over 21 years of age. Advertising of gambling on radio and TV will be limited to 22:00 and 06:00 period of time. The penalty for violation of the law will be 1 million drams (about $ 2,067).

The Armenian government has also amended the Law on Lotteries, according to which the gambling business will be restricted to special zones of Tsakhkadzor, Sevan, Jermuk, and Meghri.

Tsaghkadzor is a city in the Koktaisk region, one of the most popular ski and climate resorts in the country which accepts tourists all year round. Sevan is a city popular with tourists due to the largest source of fresh water in Armenia – Lake Sevan. It is expected that the construction of the gambling zone will promote the development of this region. Jermuk is another resort town with at least nine hotels opened.

Meghri is a city rich in historical monuments in the south of Armenia. Due to its climate, as well as its developed infrastructure, it is potentially a successful project for the gambling and entertainment resort area.

Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network

Armenia has changed the section of gambling regulation that deals with the permissible age on gambling. Gamblers in the country’s casinos must be at least 21 years of age from now on.

In fact, this particular provision has been there since September 2014. But with the new amendment, casinos must have a provision to check the age of the visitors. Atom Janjugazyan, the Minister of Finance of Armenia, signed the new order that made mandatory the checking of passport or any other identity document of the casino visitor. The casinos will be liable for a penalty up to 300 thousand drams (about 500 EUR) for any violation of the rule.

The Armenian authorities systematically tighten legislation related to online and offline gambling. Currently, Armenian Ministry of Finance is considering the possibility of restricting the activities of foreign online casinos and a partial ban on advertising of casinos on the streets of cities and in the mass media. At the same time, the government does not plan to revise the profit tax on gambling, now it is 20 per cent.

Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network

The Armenia National Assembly voted overwhelmingly to adopt the draft law on making amendments in the law on combating terrorism in the first reading at today’s sitting.

The parliament fully adopted the draft law on making amendments and supplements in the law on the “RA Investigative Committee” and the attached package of draft laws in the second reading with a vote of 85 for and 7 against.

The issue of adopting the draft law on making addendum to the Criminal Code initiated by MPs Karen Avagyan and Hrayr Tovmasyan in the second reading was also put up to voting.

The bill passed overwhelmingly the parliament’s second reading. In a speech ahead of the voting, Tsarukyan faction MP Naira Zohrabyan voiced the faction’s intention to support the bill in the second reading since the proposals submitted by the bloc over the measure had been accepted.

The Armenian parliament also overwhelmingly voted to adopt the draft law on making amendments and supplements in the law on energy and the attached bill package in the first reading.

The draft law on making amendments and supplements in the law on “Games of Chance, Online Games of Chance and Casinos” and the attached package passed the parliament’s first reading, receiving a total of 93 votes in favour.

The National Assembly also fully adopted the law on the Constitutional Court and the attached draft package in the second reading with 87 votes for and 7 against.

Source: panorama.am