Best eSports Casinos in Russia: Top 10 Casino Websites 2024

Examples of these sought-after aspects include:

Provision of multiple payment methods, including local ones
Availability of many languages, including Russian, English, Turkish, German, and French
Dependable customer service characterized by respectful, trained, responsive, and patient agents who are always at Russian punters' beck and call
Different types of loyalty programs and bonuses for esports bettors
Various security measures to protect esports bettors' sensitive information such as names, email addresses, and bank details

If a Russian punter is lucky enough to land a betting website with these features, they should use it to good advantage. There are many interesting perks to enjoy, such as worthwhile entertainment, the freedom to bet on multiple esports games, and directness. Esports betting also teaches punters handy life skills like decision-making.

History of esports betting in Russia

Gambling was illegal in Russia between 1928 and 1989, which means esports betting was unheard of back then. By the early 1990s, developers had already begun creating video games, but they weren't popular in this country until the late 1990s. Then, some Russians began playing them on their personal computers, some of which had been imported from countries such as Japan, China, and the United States.

Word spread fast about the new type of video games providing incomparable thrill. Soon enough, gamers would gather several times a week to play into the night.

In 2001, Russia made history by becoming the world's first jurisdiction to acknowledge eSports as a sport that bettors could legally bet on.

The Russian esports industry faced a plethora of challenges during its infancy. Government censorship and inadequate finances made it somewhat tricky for punters here to bet on the electronic sports on the market at the time. In addition, some gamblers didn't fully comprehend what betting on competitive video games entailed, forcing them to hold back on this activity. Again, the sports betting websites providing esport markets for punters in Russia were limited. So, they had to explore the few ones available.

Esports nowadays in Russia

The current esports hype in Russia is unbelievable. As of early 2022, it's the only betting form Russians can indulge in legally. Most of them perceive it as a massively entertaining activity, and they're not wrong. Nothing compares to the exuberance that comes with watching a specific esport tournament online. It's even more pleasurable when the team or player one wagers on wins.

Unlike years ago, Russian punters are now more knowledgeable about esports betting. They know that one needs to comprehend these video games to have a great time wagering on them. Fortunately, there's plenty of valuable information online about electronic sports. What's even more encouraging is amateurs are free to consult experts before betting on a particular esport. This enables them to access helpful tips on placing bets and what they can do to enhance the quality of their wagering experiences.

Ideally, gamblers today are expected to select Russia's best esports betting sites, offering the titles they hope to bet on and great odds. They're in luck because the list of these platforms is longer than it was in the early 2000s. This has given them the much-needed freedom to discover many sports betting websites until they find those that deliver the experiences they long for.

Future of esports betting in Russia

The esports betting market in Russia is worth billions, and it's likely to be valued at a much higher amount in the future. The number of gamblers willing to pour money into betting on these competitive video games is becoming bigger as days go by. Additional sports betting brands are also welcoming Russians, paving the way for a larger pool of esports bettors.

Unquestionably, various social media platforms have contributed to the popularization of esports betting in Russia, and they will continue to. One of them is YouTube, which allows punters to watch gamers stream their favorite esports. It also informs them about upcoming tournaments and the most skilled esport players to watch out for.

Most sports betting companies serving Russia have the opportunity to thrive in the coming years. But they must play their cards right and offer the best services to attract as many gamblers as possible. In addition, these brands also need to develop effective strategies to deal with the challenges facing this industry right now. For instance, some of the bookies in Russia need to up their advertising game so that punters know about them. As they do this, they must comply with the country's laws regarding gambling.

Are casinos legal in Russia?

In 2009, the Russian government prohibited all offline gambling activities, apart from in four regions (the Kaliningrad, Altai, Primorsky, and Krasnodar zones). This meant that any Russian caught betting on sports or playing casino games at gambling houses outside these areas could face legal repercussions.

It's crucial to note that the Russian government is keen on locating gambling operators offering their services illegally. But its heavy restrictions barely affect individual bettors, most of whom enjoy gambling online. Usually, they visit offshore esports betting platforms using VPNs and other IP-blocking services to register and wager on different electronic sports. Since these international bookies have not been blocked, punters can effortlessly transfer money into and out of their betting accounts.

Online gamblers in Russia are cautious when selecting the bookies to register with, mainly because they know if things go haywire, their government cannot help them. More often than not, they constantly analyze a bookmaker's security before signing up. This ensures that their bankrolls are safe when they're betting on esports with real money. If they're taking advantage of promotions, checking a platform's safety protocols assures them of secure withdrawals.

Esports legislation in Russia

Various laws govern esports betting operations in Russia. For starters, offline gambling providers should only operate within the four zones stipulated by the government. They are not allowed to serve punters below 18 or employ staff below this age.

The Russian government also expects gambling operators to offer adequate security for their employees and punters visiting their premises. The latter must be capital construction projects, which shouldn't be in healthcare centers, educational facilities, unfinished buildings, transit stations, temporary constructions, and residential fund properties.

The Russian law requires bookmakers' offices to provide reliable customer service, which should be at least 800 square meters. The company is free to install slot machines in that region to cater to esports bettors who may want to play them. It should come with a minimum of ten tables.

Interestingly, esports betting in Russia is legal, despite online gambling being illegal here. How is this possible? Well, betting with skins (digital items) cannot be categorized as a part of conventional online gambling, which is against the law in this country. It creates a grey area that Russian esports enthusiasts take advantage of to wager on competitive video games like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.

Betting acts in Russia

In 2006, Federal Law No. 244-FZ was passed, making all online betting platforms in Russia illegal. Betting companies in this jurisdiction reacted differently. While some moved to other countries and continued to provide their gambling services, others were forced to close up shop or transform into other types of businesses.

Several brands that decided to operate from other parts of the world adhered to the law and stopped welcoming Russians. However, most of them still allow the latter to register with them.

In 2012, the Russian Supreme Court entrusted a regulating body known as "Roskomnadzor" to track down all illegal betting platforms. This was one of the government's strategies to see to it that no online gambling was taking place in the country. The court also tasked all internet providers with blocking the betting platforms embracing Russians.

But this was against their policies, so most of them declined to do it. The government was infuriated, and it made it clear that internet providers violating this law would lose their licenses.

Unquestionably, the Roskomnadzor has always been vigilant to bar esports betting in Russia. A few years back, it saw the restriction of websites such as csgo.tm, csgofast.com, and skingames.co, which served Russian punters.

Russian players' favorite games

Among the top reasons Russians are drawn to online esports betting is there are lots of titles to wager on. They even enjoy the games because they're simple, with exciting themes and top-notch designs.

Check out some of the video game genres Russians bet on today:

Real-Time Strategy games: Starcraft, Age of Empires, and Warcraft.
Card Games: Magic: The Gathering Arena, Hearthstone, and Shadowverse.
Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) titles: Heroes of the Storm, League of Legends, Heroes of Newerth, Defense of the Ancients, Dota 2, Strife, Smite, Vainglory, and Heroes Evolved.
Racing titles: Kart Rider, Formula One Esports Series, Project CARS, and Trackmania.
First-Person Shooters: Valorant, Counter-Strike series, Halo series, Doom, Rainbow Six: Siege, Overwatch, Quake, Call of Duty series, Special Force II, Battlefield, and Painkiller.
Fighting games: Street Fighter, Killer Instinct, Tekken, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Battle Royale games: Apex Legends, Fortnite, Minecraft, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, Z1 Battle Royale, and Battlegrounds Mobile India.

Most of these eSport games have their share of enthusiasts in Russia, but Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Dota 2 have the top spots. Data from Statista also showed _World of Tanks_had the highest number of fans in this country in 2019, but this may have changed within the past few years.

Payment methods in Russia

Russian punters enjoy betting on esports with real money because it's easy to fund their betting accounts and receive payouts. Some of the local systems at their disposal are QIWI, WebMoney, Mir, Sberbank Online, MegaFon, and YooMoney (previously known as Yandex Money).

But gamblers are not limited to these alone. The international payment methods they can leverage include:

Visa
Mastercard
PayPal
Cryptocurrency (Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum)
Bank transfers
Neteller
Skrill
AstroPay

Russian gamblers ought to understand that although most of these deposit/withdrawal methods are effortless to utilize, they don't work the same way. This means the process of funding their betting accounts or authorizing withdrawals might differ, depending on the system one opts to use.

For instance, when a punter deposits with Skrill, the cash can reflect in their esports betting account within seconds. This digital wallet is known for its instant transfers. But this may not be the case when they use wire transfer. This payment method comes with a processing time of up to three days, depending on the cash moved and the esports betting platform receiving it. If the gambler lacks patience or hopes to bet on a particular esport tournament the same day they deposit, bank transfer doesn't suit them.

FAQ

How many payment methods can esports bettors in Russia use to deposit at their favorite bookies?

There's no limit to the payment systems Russians can leverage to fund their esports betting accounts. These include local and international ones such as QIWI, WebMoney, PayPal, and Skrill.

Which is the best esport betting website in Russia?

The best esports betting in Russia depends on a punter and their unique needs. For instance, if one wants to wager on eSport games like Hearthstone and Call of Duty, the ideal website for them provides these markets.

Is it safe to wager on esports in Russia?

Yes, it's safe to punt on different types of electronic sports in Russia since its government has already declared this activity legal. However, punters also have to take the initiative to ensure nothing threatens their security. They can do this by picking legal platforms with top-level security protocols.

Should amateur gamblers wager on esports in Russia?

Yes, novice esports gamblers in Russia can wager on their favorite eSport games. But they should always prep for it beforehand. An excellent strategy to do this is by extensively researching the video game they want to bet on. Choosing a reputable platform with many positive reviews is also best to prevent being duped.