Government submits tighter rules of lotteries to Duma

MOSCOW, April 23 (Itar-Tass) -- The Russian government has submitted
to the State Duma a bill expected "to eliminate the possibility of
gambling under the guise of lotteries, as well as improving the state
regulation of the lottery business," as follows from an entry in the
electronic database of the lower house of parliament.
The bills provides for "restrictions on the amount of equipment used
in a lottery, for the change of notification registration procedures to
mandatory authorization, the definition of the minimum period, after which
the payment, transfer or provision of lottery winnings is possible."
Also, restrictions are imposed on the sites of distribution of lottery
tickets.
The government may be empowered to establish additional requirements
for lottery equipment and lottery terminals, as well as the procedures of
verifying compliance.
This is necessary to exclude the possibility of gambling under the
guise of stimulating lotteries, and also not to develop technical
regulations for lottery equipment, said the memorandum accompanying the
bill.
In addition, supervisory authorities will have the opportunity once a
year to inspect the organizers of gambling and legal persons conducting
lotteries.
Violation of the law on lotteries will entail administrative
punishment.