Representatives of bookmakers in Armenia say that the new draft law on tightening the conditions for organizing gambling contains risks and may lead to negative consequences.Artak Arakelyan, Candidate of Economic Sciences, as well as the financial director of the betting company Digigam, said that after the adoption of the amendments, more than two thousand people will be left without work, and the state, in turn, will lose a stable source of income. There are currently only four official bookmakers in Armenia, but in Yerevan and the regions, about 500 bookmakers offer their services to players. According to the submitted draft law, all slot machines, sweepstakes and betting shops will be able to provide their services only in the territory of special zones: in Tsaghkadzor, Sevan, Jermuk, and Meghri. However, as Arakelyan stated, it would be unprofitable for gambling companies to open their establishments there, mainly because of the prices for licenses. Arakelyan also noted that if these amendments are adopted, players will not stop betting, but will simply play in illegal underground bookmakers that will not be controlled by the state. Recall that strikes are expected in Armenia, as well as protests related to the next amendments to the law “On Lotteries”, due to which the number of land-based bookmakers in the republic may drastically decrease.
