Belarus Gambling Ad Draft Adds Risk Warnings and Bonus Limits
The additional warning requirement was outlined by MP Anzhelina Syromyatnikova in a comment published by Gomelskie Vedomosti on September 7. She said the draft would require advertising to make clear that a win is not guaranteed, financial losses are possible and gambling may harm health.
The proposal is not yet in force. Belarus’ Ministry of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade, or MART, said in its official August notice that amendments to the country’s advertising law had been prepared and sent for coordination with interested parties.
The Draft Goes Beyond a Warning Label
MART’s public summary set out several restrictions that could materially change gambling campaigns in Belarus. The draft would:
- Restrict gambling advertising on television and radio by time;
- Largely prohibit online gambling advertising, subject to certain exceptions;
- Ban gambling ads in vehicles;
- Prohibit the use of people and animals in gambling advertising;
- Prevent ads from mentioning bonuses that can be used to place bets.
Syromyatnikova’s later description adds further detail. She said the proposal also covers advertising at metro stations and outdoor advertising between 07:00 and 22:00, except for signs identifying gambling venues themselves.
Risk Warning Emerges in Later Account
MART’s August overview mentioned limits on online advertising, transport placements, imagery and bonus promotions. It did not spell out a mandatory risk warning, although the ministry made clear that its public list was not complete.
More detail appeared in Syromyatnikova’s September 7 comments. According to the MP, gambling ads would also have to state that winning is not guaranteed and that players can lose money, while warning of possible harm to health.
For now, it is safest to treat this as a newly disclosed detail rather than a newly added provision. The full draft has not been made public, so it is not possible to establish when the warning entered the proposal.
What Could Change for Gambling Marketing
Nothing changes for operators or affiliates yet: the amendments are still under review. But the areas likely to require attention are already taking shape.
For operators, the draft could mean changes to ad copy as well as to bonus-led campaigns and creatives featuring people or animals. Outdoor placements would also face tighter limits.
The effect on affiliates may depend more heavily on the final wording of the proposed internet-ad restrictions. If the amendments move forward in their current direction, traffic and promotional campaigns aimed at Belarus may need to be reviewed, particularly where bonuses are part of the message.
The main missing piece is the list of exceptions. MART has said that the proposed restrictions on internet advertising would not apply in every case, but its public summary does not yet show where the line will be drawn.
The Draft Is Still Under Review
MART said the amendments had been sent for coordination with interested parties. No implementation date has been announced.
The useful checkpoint will be publication of the draft itself or another official update showing that it has moved beyond the coordination stage.