Russia cuts the blocking window for gambling websites from 5 days to 2, law takes effect on September 1

Russia has passed a law in its second and third readings that reduces the time it takes to block gambling websites from 5 days to 2. For operators and PSPs with exposure to the market, the only thing that matters here is speed: once the process starts, the window to move traffic, accounts, and payment routes gets shorter.

1. The law was approved in Russia in the second and third readings, and it specifically targets gambling websites by shortening the blocking timeline from 5 days to 2.
2. The document will enter into force on September 1, which gives market participants a fixed date rather than an open-ended regulatory move.
3. For high-risk payments, the practical effect is straightforward: less time to react when a domain is flagged, fewer days to re-route deposits, and a tighter operational margin for any PSP or acquiring setup tied to Russian-facing traffic.