President Aleksandr Lukashenko has demanded a report on the progress of creating a draft decree to introduce new gambling legislation in Belarus. The head of state proposed a variety of new restrictions on gambling at a meting with the leadership of the Council of Ministers on May 29 and told ministers to report back.
According to the state-owned BelTA (Belarusian Telegraph Agency), Lukashenko suggested ordering banks to restrict payments to foreign gambling operators. He also proposed banning gambling with credit and recommended allowing family members to request exclusions for compulsive gamblers.
Lukashenko stated that it is necessary to ensure children and vulnerable individuals cannot access online gambling and betting. He also emphasized that only solvent individuals should be allowed to gamble.
He says this is not the first time they have raised this issue, and that the business is thriving in Belarus. They have experience in dealing with the gambling business and they should use it to finalize all the rules. Furthermore, they know many examples of gambling addicts losing their grip and nothing can stop them. They take on debts, loans, sell property. It affects them, their families and society.
For the possible restrictions, he said maybe they should allow family members of gambling addicts to ban them from gambling. After all, the money from lost apartments and cars goes to foreign gambling companies, therefore this is a matter of principle. He wants to know how to resolve this issue.
Lukashenko also stated that, to begin with, they should ban banks from transferring gambling-related money outside the country. He emphasized that they should invest the money earned here within the country. This applies to all areas of work.
