ARMENIA Law and Practice Contributed by: Roustam Badasyan, Artur Manukyan, Marianna Grigoryan and Davit Baklachyan, Badasyan Consulting LLC
monitoring system; (d) provision of market monitoring, data manage- ment, and analytical services; and (e) support for responsible and fair gaming prac- tices. The Operator also provides technical guidance, col- laborates with public authorities, and ensures the flow of information to the Competent and Supervi- sory Authorities, effectively acting as an operational arm of the state within a public-private partnership framework. 4.2 Regulatory Approach Armenia adopts a primarily prescriptive regulatory approach for the gambling sector. The framework is codified in the Law on Regulation of Gaming Activi- ties and relevant secondary legislation, prescribing detailed requirements for licensing, operational stand- ards, location constraints, technical compliance, and reporting obligations. 4.3 Types of Licences Under the Armenian regulatory framework, licences are principally categorised according to the type of gaming activity the organiser intends to conduct: • licence for the organisation of games of chance or internet games of chance; • licence for the organisation of bookmaking activi- ties; and • licence for the organisation of lotteries. 4.4 Availability of Licences Licences are generally available, subject to compli- ance with legal, financial, and operational require- ments. However, certain licences, such as those for organising games of chance or internet games of chance in Yerevan, or for large-scale investments, are limited by geographic zoning, minimum investment thresholds, and government approval. Online licences are available to gaming activity organisers who meet the technical and monitoring requirements prescribed by the Law on Regulation of Gaming Activities. 4.5 Duration of Licences Under the Government Resolution on Establishing the Procedure for Licensing the Organisation of Gaming
Activities, licences may be granted for an indefinite period, irrespective of the type of gaming activity. The Gaming Law provides for the suspension or revoca- tion of licences in specific circumstances, including breaches of the Gaming Law, failure to fulfil tax obli- gations, or non-compliance with requirements set out in the orders of the Supervisory Authority. Licences may also be terminated upon the organiser’s request. 4.6 Application Requirements Application requirements for both land-based and online organisers are set out in the Government Reso- lution on Establishing the Procedure for Licensing the Organisation of Gaming Activities. While the general framework applies to all applicants, there are distinct differences between land-based and online gambling activities. For land-based gambling, applicants must specify the location of the gaming hall. They are required to sub- mit proof of property ownership or the right to use the premises, including floor plans, certificates confirming the installation of fire safety and alarm systems, dec- larations regarding compliance with spatial standards and minimum distance requirements, or hotel classi- fication standards if the gaming hall is located within a hotel or motel. Online gambling applicants must disclose their offi- cial website, any gaming applications they use, and the locations of their servers. Where online gambling is conducted directly through a physical gaming hall, the hall’s address must also be provided, and the hall- specific requirements, including fire safety and surveil- lance, apply. The applicants must submit a certificate confirming website compliance and a declaration confirming the availability of a deposit in an Armenian bank equivalent to twice the annual state fee. All applicants, regardless of the type of activity, must submit: • tax clearance certificates confirming that there are no overdue liabilities; • the rules and regulations governing the conduct of gambling activities approved by the relevant man- agement body;
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