Belarus government set to launch online casino

The proposed draft will allow the government to impose taxes on gambling websites that have servers in Belarus. It also plans to set up a state-run gambling portal, Belarus' Minister of Taxation Uladzimir Paluyan told reporters.

"Discussions are still under way, but, I think, this document will be passed this year. Afterwards, we will begin to implement its provisions in practice," Paluyan is quoted by BELTA state news agency as saying.

"One should work on setting up a state-run portal in the Republic of Belarus. It could be used to organize gambling in the internet," the minister added. According to his estimates, the state-run online casino could increase budget revenues by around Br62 billion (approximately $6 million) within the next three years.