Armenia Finance Minister calls for strict restrictions on gambling advertising

Armenia’s Minister of Finance, Armen Hayrapetyan, has garnered support from a standing committee of Economic Affairs for proposals to impose gambling restrictions on the nation’s Advertising Laws.
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Armenia’s Minister of Finance, Armen Hayrapetyan, has garnered support from a standing committee of Economic Affairs for proposals to impose gambling restrictions on the nation’s Advertising Laws.

The Armenian government has ordered standing committees to draft potential policies that are intended to be debated and voted on by the National Assembly.

Hayrapetyan seeks to impose stringent rules on where gambling advertising can be displayed to the public.

Highlighting that Armenia adopts gambling advertising restrictions that mirror those enforced by Latvia, Estonia, the Czech Republic and Georgia, the Minister has proposed that gambling advertising be restricted to four-star and above hotels, border checkpoints and ‘in the front of buildings carrying out the similar business activities’.

Since its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Armenia has adopted a fragmented framework governing gambling with laws imposed by separate governing departments. This means the Ministry of Finance holds responsibility for the gambling industry. 

Backing advertising reforms, Hayrapetyan stated that Armenia’s government required a “common policy in the field of gambling to help establish equal competition conditions for businesses”.

Though endorsing the minister’s draft policy, the Standing Committee noted a ‘dissatisfaction in the field of advertising media’ – as according to Armenian media agents, between 60-70% of income was generated by online gambling and lottery businesses.  

Hayrapetyan draft policy disputed the agents’ figures, stating that the Ministry of Finance recognised gambling advertising to be between 20-25% of media income.