Responsible gaming and the Unified register: prospects and challenges

Recently, the Ministry of Digital Transformation presented its plan for further reform of the gambling sector. It represents a comprehensive set of measures aimed at addressing key issues related to taxation, as well as the introduction of a Unified Register, which will serve as the foundation for the State Online Monitoring System (SOMS). All these changes are intended to simplify interaction between players, gambling operators, and the regulator PlayCity, and finally resolve issues related to the tax base and tax rates.

The reform of the gambling market proposed by the Ministry of Digital Transformation is an important package of initiatives, the implementation of which will make it possible to finally speak of the full completion of the reform. This time, it is not about cosmetic changes — it is about transforming approaches: replacing fragmented regulation with a unified digital control system that will enable real-time monitoring of interactions between operators and players. If implemented, this initiative will increase market transparency, make it more difficult for illegal operators to function, and potentially increase state budget revenues.

The key idea is the Unified Register as the main database for the State Online Monitoring System (SOMS). It is intended to function as a kind of information hub where the regulator will have full visibility into interactions between gambling operators and players, while businesses will have convenient electronic accounts through which they can interact with the regulator. In this way, the regulator will have access to all player-related transactions in real time, enhancing market security.

Another important advantage of the register will be the ability to track players’ gaming behavior in detail: session duration, bet sizes, spending pace, and more. This, in turn, will make it possible to implement responsible gaming principles in practice. When the system detects risky behavioral patterns, operators will be able to respond promptly: warn the player, suggest taking a break, initiate a conversation with a consultant, or temporarily restrict access with the user’s consent. Such a “soft” approach to controlling gaming behavior is far more effective than repressive bans. When a player, driven by strong азарт (excitement), enters a state of “tunnel thinking,” something must interrupt it — and even a simple suggestion from a consultant, or an AI bot, to pause can save the player not only time and nerves, but also money.

Self-exclusion is another key option that should be available to players within the register. The ability for players to independently set limits on bets, deposits, and session time through their personal account in the register will increase their control over the gaming process and reduce migration to “gray” and “black” gambling platforms, where no safeguards exist.

However, the full potential of the register will only be realized with a comprehensive approach. There must be unification of tax rules, terminology, and clear, flexible limits that take into account the specifics of different market segments. Technical standards for data exchange, protection of players’ personal data, and transparent audit procedures are also necessary. Without such systemic adjustments, there is a risk that the register will remain a formal database, incapable of fulfilling its intended tasks. Therefore, the key is to act not in a fragmented manner, but systematically — to standardize processes and ensure the technical readiness of all participants. Only then will the register transform from a bureaucratic tool into a driving force for the modernization of the gambling industry.