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Table Of Content :

Armenia to Require Telecom Operators to Block Unlicensed Gambling Websites

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Altay
Altay Celikkaya
Content Manager
Updated:
Reading Time: 3 minutes

Armenia is preparing an infrastructure-level enforcement system that would require telecommunications operators to restrict access to gambling websites serving local users without the required Armenian authorisation. The measure forms part of a wider regulatory overhaul covering online access, advertising, payments and centralised supervision. Reports identify 8 February 2027 as the expected implementation date, although the framework is not yet in force. Its commencement remains linked to the appointment of Armenia’s gambling regulation operator and completion of the statutory transition period.

Armenian flag waving in front of the government building in Yerevan

Regulation & Compliance

Key Takeaways from Armenia’s Proposed Online Gambling Controls

  • Telecom operators would block domains included in a regulator-approved database rather than assess websites independently.

  • Banks and payment companies would restrict transactions connected with listed websites and associated gambling brands.

  • Advertising controls would reduce the ability of unauthorised operators to acquire Armenian customers through digital channels.

  • Licensed businesses would face deeper monitoring as Armenia moves towards a more integrated supervisory infrastructure.

Armenia Builds a Centralised Blocking Process

The Armenian State Revenue Committee’s official announcement says the changes are designed to strengthen oversight of online gambling and lottery services offered without an Armenian licence.

Under the proposed operational model, the Committee would maintain a central database containing approved domains, mirror sites and operator details. Internet providers would receive access to that information and apply restrictions to entries. The accompanying draft framework envisages action within two working days after data become available.

This approach does not make every foreign gambling website automatically unlawful. The relevant test concerns whether an operator lacks the required Armenian authorisation and makes gambling participation available within Armenia. The SRC said the regulations are not intended to restrict legal gaming activity, presenting the framework as a measure to protect the licensed market and support fair competition.

Armenia’s model follows a move towards network-level enforcement. A Danish DNS blocking order covering Polymarket and 97 other domains similarly placed internet service providers at the centre of action against operators targeting a market without local permission.

Payments and Advertising Join the Enforcement Layer

Telecom blocking is only one component of the system. Armenian banks and payment organisations would also receive information from the central database and restrict transactions linked to confirmed websites and their trademarks. The structure closely resembles the Czech Republic’s coordinated access and payment restrictions, where internet providers and financial institutions were both brought into enforcement.

Advertising is another important part of the reform. The authorities intend to limit promotion by operators without Armenian licences, reducing their ability to reach local audiences even when domains or mirror sites change. This policy direction also coincides with Google’s stricter gambling advertising requirements, which increased certification and domain-ownership checks during 2026.

Compliance Responsibility Expands Beyond Operators

The business impact extends across the gambling supply chain. Telecom providers will need reliable processes for receiving, validating and implementing blocking instructions. Banks and payment businesses will need controls capable of connecting domains, brands and merchant identifiers to restricted transactions. Licensed operators should expect closer scrutiny of their systems and data once the centralised monitoring architecture becomes operational.

The monitoring system is intended to give regulators direct visibility into wagers, deposits, losses and operator activity across licensed businesses. For compliant operators, this may create clearer market boundaries, but it will also increase expectations around data quality, system connectivity and regulatory reporting.

The reported 8 February 2027 date should therefore be treated as the planned start rather than an unconditional deadline. Businesses should monitor the final implementing decision, confirmation of the operator-led transition period and publication of the official blocking list before treating telecom or payment restrictions as active.