Armenia to start blocking unlicensed gambling sites via telecom operators in 2027

Armenia is preparing a tighter enforcement toolkit for online gambling, with telecom operators set to help block unlicensed gaming sites from February 8 2027. For PSPs and operators in the regulated stack, the practical signal is simple: Armenia is moving from licensing on paper to licensing backed by technical enforcement.

1. The State Revenue Committee (SRC) is amending the Law On Regulation of Gaming Activities and related legislation to strengthen control over online gambling and lottery services offered by companies without an Armenian gambling licence. The revised rules also target advertising distribution from unlicensed gambling companies.
2. According to Armenpress, the new measures are expected to take effect on February 8 2027. The government says the goal is to make the licensing regime more effective, protect the regulated market, and reduce risks that distort competition.
3. The blocking mechanism will work through telecommunications operators, which is the part that matters operationally: if the law is implemented as described, access control moves from a purely legal issue to an infrastructure issue. That usually changes the calculus for traffic acquisition, payment routing, and affiliate-driven acquisition around the market.
4. The enforcement update comes alongside a separate rollout for licensed gambling oversight. Last month, the government confirmed Malta-based Random Systems International as the winner of its tender to provide a centralized monitoring system for Armenia’s licensed gambling sector, through a locally established subsidiary.
5. Under that framework, all bets must be recorded in real time, with the SRC given direct access to the data. The provider will also handle regulatory functions, including enforcement of responsible gaming rules and restrictions on vulnerable players and state employees. The system is scheduled to launch fully in January 2027 and remain in place for 15 years.

The thing to watch for high-risk operators is that Armenia is building both sides of the fence at once: better monitoring for licensed activity and a technical path to suppress unlicensed access and promotion. That combination tends to matter more than a standalone ban, because it gives the regulator something to see and something to stop.