Member of Armenia’s National Assembly, Hayk Sargsyan, has proposed to amend the law “On Regulation of Gambling Activities” and introduce a mandatory requirement for online casinos to have publicly accessible self-exclusion buttons on their platforms. During the Parliamentary Committee meeting on April 29, 2026, Sargsyan revealed that online casino bets have increased 35-fold over the
Member of Armenia’s National Assembly, Hayk Sargsyan, has proposed to amend the law “On Regulation of Gambling Activities” and introduce a mandatory requirement for online casinos to have publicly accessible self-exclusion buttons on their platforms.
During the Parliamentary Committee meeting on April 29, 2026, Sargsyan revealed that online casino bets have increased 35-fold over the last 8 years and reached $19.9 billion in 2025. He stressed that the numbers show how gambling addiction is becoming a bigger problem in Armenia, as players are able to access online casinos from any location without proper tools to help them stop.
Sargsyan commented:
“In an attempt to recoup their money, citizens are accumulating debts and loans, thereby further worsening an already critical situation. Under the current circumstances, the National Assembly is obliged to take preventive measures aimed at maximally restricting participation in online casinos for individuals who no longer want to gamble but are unable to overcome their addiction, as well as those in dire social situations or those using government support programs.”
In an effort to control the increase in gambling addiction, Sargsyan’s legislation aims to require all gambling operators to add clearly visible self-exclusion options on their websites.
He further added:
“After clicking this button, playing at online casinos will be prohibited for a period of five years, with no possibility of early reinstatement. After this period, the ban is automatically extended for another five years unless the citizen submits an application to lift the restriction five days before its expiration. Information about the self-ban will be communicated to the gaming operator. Activity in other online casinos and gaming platforms will also be suspended.”
There are also additional plans to ban access to online casinos for bankrupt individuals, recipients of social benefits, individuals whose consumer loans are more than 40% of their annual income, and those persons who receive a pension as their primary income.