Do you want to find out the best Russian betting sites? We’ve made a list with the most reliable Russian bookmakers. Learn more about sports betting at the Russian sportsbooks.
Find the best Russian bookmakers
Russia is a huge gambling market with betting in Russia generating annual turnover that exceeds $6.5 billion. Sports betting in Russia accounts for more than $70 million in annual turnover but one should bear in mind these are official figures that do not reflect all sports betting activities.
Russian bookmakers face many restrictions and only a few Russian sportsbooks are fully licensed to operate within the country. Nonetheless, Russian bettors are taking advantage of foreign bookmakers and sportsbooks and in result online gambling in Russia is thriving.
What are the best Russian betting sites
Well-known international bookmakers and new sportsbooks targeting this lucrative market populate the list of Russia sports betting sites. As betting sites in Russia are subject to numerous restrictions, Russian punters are looking for more advantageous odds and more betting options provided by foreign bookmakers.
Many of the best Russian bookmakers do not hold a formal license to operate in the country but still attract the overwhelming majority of Russian gamblers. In result, the majority of Russian bettors are shifting to online sportsbooks and mobile betting services that offer both better odds and safer payment methods.
Finding Russian betting sites that offer their odds in the Russian language and have a version of their website in Russian is relatively easy. You should bear in mind that many reputable online bookmakers do not have a betting page in Russian to avoid being blacklisted by the Russian authorities.
You may also like:Is sports betting legal in Russia
Betting is completely legal in five regions, or gambling zones, of Russia. These are: Azov-City (Krasnodar region); Sibirskaya Moneta (Altai region); Primorye (Primorskiy region); Yantarnaya (Kaliningrad region) and Krasnaya Polyana (Sochi in the Krasnodar region)
Sports betting is legal event outside these regions and a few land-based betting shops are available to Russian bettors.
A couple of online gambling operators hold licenses to operate in Russia, but you still cannot bet in Russia on everything. The local gambling authority, Roskomnadzor, is actively blacklisting and blocking betting sites in Russia that do not hold an official license.
Furthermore, banks are instructed not to process transactions for betting purposes as well as withdrawals of winnings from sports betting.
That is why both Russian online bookmakers and Russian gamblers are always on alert for alternative betting methods.
Sports betting bonuses and free bets for Russian bettors
As we said, Russian bettors have a limited choice of Russian sportsbooks but they are still able to claim bonuses provided by the leading foreign bookmakers. Best Russian bookmakers, usually located outside Russia, offer promotions to Russian residents as well as sign up bonuses and free bets for Russian punters.
New customers from Russia are welcome at most leading foreign sportsbooks while a number of Russian online bookmakers and mobile betting services are offering specific betting promotions for gamblers from Russia.
Bookmakers in Russia in 2018 face a bit more relaxed framework for providing sports betting services, mostly due to the buzz surrounding the FIFA World Cup that was held in the country.
Most popular sports for betting in Russia
Football is a very popular sport in Russia but the local punters also enjoy placing wagers on winter sports such as ice hockey, skiing and skating. Other popular sports include volleyball and basketball as well as motorsports.
Russia sports betting sites cover the entire spectrum of sporting events and offer odds on many popular foreign leagues such as the NBA, NHL and NBL as well as many leading football leagues. Bets on popular games such as the Champions League are widely available through top Russian bookmakers.
Payment methods for betting in Russia
You will not find many Russian sportsbooks that support deposits and withdrawals in rubles. That said, most Russian gamblers need to deposit money for betting and get their winnings in U.S. dollars or Euro.
A good number of Russian betting sites are accepting deposits through debit and credit cards by VISA and MasterCard. In 2018, MasterCard announced that it returns to Russia to process transactions originating from gambling activities. An alternative to these cards is the prepaid card by Paysafecard that is widely used for betting activities.
It seems that most Russian gamblers prefer online payment methods to place wagers online and get their winnings, though. The most popular e-wallets in Russia are Neteller and Skrill.
It is possible to place bets and withdraw your winnings via bank transfer in Russia but you should be aware that your transactions might be blocked. Using cheques is possible but not advisable as well due to cheques in most cases are being processed by a bank.
Do I pay taxes on gambling winnings in Russia
The Russian Ministry of Finance taxes Russian players’ net winnings at the rate of 13%. You do not pay any tax on lottery winnings, as lotteries are not considered a gambling activity in Russia.
It is doubtful, however, that anyone in the country is tracking individuals’ winnings generated through sports betting sites in Russia.
Conclusion
Russia’s sports betting sites are forecast to grow markedly in the years until 2030. Moreover, the Russian authorities seem to focus their activities on regulating and governing the land-based gambling industry while online sports betting is not considered a priority.
Thus, Russian online bookmakers have a relative freedom to develop their product and Russian bettors can safely place wagers at Russian sportsbooks. Check our list of the top Russian bookmakers to find a sportsbook that best fits your needs.
Russian bookmakers are very attractive – high limits, fast payouts, sometimes no verification betting process, really wide range of betting markets and events, high average payout, involved in many arbs, easy to use bonus offers. Stay sharp and use the Russian bookmakers wisely. Good Luck!
Check out: