Fonbet, Winline, Liga Stavok and Pari challenge Moscow FAS ruling over ads on Yandex

Four Russian bookmakers have filed suit in the Moscow Arbitration Court against Moscow’s Federal Antimonopoly Service (UFAS) over a June 29 ruling that found violations of advertising law. For high-risk operators, the case is a reminder that ad copy, platform placement, and how a promotion is classified can all turn into regulatory exposure at once.

1. Fonbet (ООО «Фонкор»), Winline (ООО «Управляющая компания национального коневодческого союза»), Liga Stavok (ООО «Первая международная букмекерская компания») and Pari (ООО «Букмекерская контора "Пари"») filed the claim on October 8, according to the Moscow Arbitration Court docket.
2. Third parties in the case include ООО «Яндекс», ООО «Кех Екоммерц» (Avito) and ООО «Фирма "Стом"» (Betboom). The bookmakers are trying to overturn Moscow UFAS’s June 29 decision finding an advertising law violation.
3. The original antimonopoly case was opened against Pari and Yandex. The ad campaign at issue invited users to register and take part in a giveaway; when users clicked through, they were shown free bets and bonuses. The ads carried slogans including “Register and win in the Pari lottery” and “Register. Top up. Win. Pari lottery,” and were distributed through Yandex Direct.
4. Moscow UFAS told Kommersant that it found two violations of the advertising law: the slogans created the impression of a guaranteed win, and the use of bookmaker brands without separating the advertised objects effectively turned the placement into advertising for betting activity, which is not allowed on such resources. The agency said responsibility lies with both advertisers and ad distributors.
5. UFAS said Yandex, Avito and Betboom are not appealing the decision. Avito told Kommersant that the outcome of the case could potentially affect its interests as well. In Pari’s view, it is challenging both the Moscow UFAS decision and the order because the regulator treated lottery advertising as gambling advertising, while the law distinguishes between the two categories.