Total Bets in Armenia Reach 67 Billion Dollars Over 6 Years

During the last six years, the total amount of bets made in the online gambling sector in Armenia has seen an unprecedented growth of 2037%, totaling approximately 67 billion USD. This alarming statistic was reported by the "Union of Reserve Officers of the National Security Service."

The origin of these funds raises serious questions, particularly regarding the sources from which this money is derived, how around 65 billion USD in winnings have been distributed, and what control mechanisms are in place by the state, law enforcement agencies, and the Central Bank to manage this process.

It is also noteworthy that this issue not only emphasizes the need for financial oversight but also has direct implications for national security, particularly in the context of combating potential money laundering and financing of terrorism.

At the same time, hundreds of thousands of citizens, including representatives of socially vulnerable groups, have found themselves in dire financial situations, having lost their savings and jeopardizing the social well-being of their families.

In this context, a primary objective is to protect society from the addiction associated with online gambling, which not only leads to serious personal and familial consequences but also exacerbates the social and economic crisis in the country, threatening societal stability and collective well-being.

To address these issues, the Union of Reserve Officers of the NSS will provide public support to the "Aware Society" socio-legal center, aiming to conduct consultations, studies, and analyses regarding issues in the sector, obtain comprehensive information, and draw well-founded conclusions. Legal assistance will be provided by the company "Mikael Hambardzumyan and Partners."

We call on interested parties to implement mechanisms to unveil possible shadow and corrupt practices related to the operations of online gambling, to make financial movements more transparent and controllable, and to regulate the sector. If information regarding the issues discussed is provided to us, appropriate confidentiality will be ensured.