ARMENIA Law and Practice Contributed by: Roustam Badasyan, Artur Manukyan, Marianna Grigoryan and Davit Baklachyan, Badasyan Consulting LLC
and/or mechanical play, that is based on risk and offers the opportunity to win. The winner is deter- mined by a specific program or mechanical system contained within the product, with the player’s direct or indirect participation. The term also covers live games, in which a dealer participates alongside the player (acting on behalf of the organiser to conduct or verify the outcome), or games in which multiple players participate simultaneously without a dealer (except mechanised games). Internet Game of Chance This means a game of chance organised via internet access using gaming products. Such games may also be conducted through physical gaming halls. Bookmaker Activity This refers to the organisation of accepting, recording, and paying winnings on bets placed on the possible outcomes of sporting, gaming, social, political, or oth- er events, as well as creating opportunities for players to place such bets (including through the granting of rights in any form). Bookmaker activity may also be conducted through a gaming hall. Lottery A lottery is defined as a public event during which the organiser conducts a drawing of a prize fund among participants. The outcome depends solely on chance and is not influenced by the organiser’s actions or will. Lotteries, too, may be organised through gaming halls. 3.3 Definition of Land-Based Gambling Under Armenian law, “gaming” broadly includes all forms of gambling activities. The legal framework does not differentiate between land-based and online gaming; thus, the statutory definition applies equally to both formats. 3.4 Definition of Online Gambling See 3.3 Definition of Land-Based Gambling . 3.5 Key Offences Administrative Offences The Armenian Code of Administrative Offences lists a number of breaches in the gambling sector that are subject to administrative penalties, as listed here.
• Failure or improper performance by public elec- tronic communications network operators provid- ing internet access services of their obligations, as prescribed by the Law on Regulation of Gaming Activities, to block access to websites of gaming interactive platforms organised in foreign states by entities that do not hold the relevant license required under the legislation of the Republic of Armenia – penalises the public electronic com- munications network providers for failure to carry out the geo-blocking obligations under the Gaming Law. • Violation of the requirements of the Law of the Republic of Armenia “On Combating Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing (the ”AML Law”)” and the legal acts adopted pursuant to that Law ‒ sanctions the head of a legal entity that is a non-financial institution, the responsible person of organisers of games of chance, internet games of chance, lotteries, or games organised through bookmaking activities, as well as an official of a state body vested with obligations under the AML Law for violating the requirements imposed upon such entities. • Use, without the relevant registration (licence), of unauthorised or legally prohibited words, as well as the use of certain words in a name, advertise- ment, or public offer by unlicensed persons, or any form of assistance in such advertising ‒ given that the Gaming Law prohibits the use, in the name of an organisation, trade name, trademark, website name, or signage, the words “game of chance” (including “casino” or “gaming hall”), “internet game of chance,” “lottery,” “bookmaking activity” (including “bookmaker’s office” or “totaliser”), as well as any of their derivatives or translations, the Code sets out penalties for such restricted use. • Carrying out activities in the areas of trade, public catering, restricted services, or household services without the requisite authorisation – prohibits oper- ating gaming and lottery facilities, or casinos after midnight without the required authorisation. Criminal Offences The Criminal Code establishes a few offences related to engaging in unlawful gambling:
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