Armenia Introduces Stricter Payment Control Regulations

(AsiaGameHub) –   The Republic of Armenia is ongoing with reforms and efforts in the gambling industry. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his administration are developing tighter rules and a structure for licensed operators, while also ramping up pressure on unlicensed entities.

While these measures are under discussion, authorities intend to block payments to unlicensed operators. Local banks will be required to decline transactions using Merchant Category Code (MCC) 7995—used for gambling payments—unless the transactions originate from licensed Armenian operators.

The reforms also encompass more stringent anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) requirements. Finance Minister Vahe Hovhannisyan and State Revenue Committee Chairman Rustam Badasyan will oversee the implementation process.

Simultaneously, Armenia is developing an enhanced monitoring system to link operators with state infrastructure around the clock. This system will enable regulatory oversight of gambling activities and transactions.

The State Revenue Committee is currently in the process of selecting a private software partner to build this monitoring platform.

The Ministry of Finance is laying the groundwork for the gambling regulator and other necessary future details.

A number of new player protection measures have been rolled out, including mandatory self-exclusion, stop-play features, and additional restrictions to prevent bankrupt individuals from accessing gambling platforms.

In 2025, authorities raised online gambling licensing fees and introduced a new 10% turnover tax for operators. These fees are set to increase through 2028.

The revised laws also mandate that operators use Armenia’s local domain system, along with implementing geo-blocking and reviewing the taxation of winnings.