Belarus has introduced new restrictions on electronic instant lotteries, expanding oversight and limiting who can participate.
President Alexander Lukashenko signed Presidential Decree No. 64 on 20 February 2026, updating the regulatory structure that has governed lotteries since 2007. The changes focus on access restrictions and stricter financial monitoring, particularly around vulnerable groups.
Participation rules brought in line with gambling bans
The decree amends earlier provisions set out under Decree No. 209 of May 4, 2007. Under the revised framework, individuals under 18 are now explicitly barred from participating in electronic instant lotteries.
The restriction also extends to individuals already prohibited from entering gambling venues or accessing online gambling platforms. In effect, Belarus has aligned lottery access with existing gambling exclusion lists, treating electronic lottery products as part of the broader gambling control environment.
Officials said the objective is to strengthen protections for minors and individuals subject to gambling-related restrictions.
Banks drafted into enforcement
One of the more significant changes involves payment control.
Banks are now required to refuse lottery-related transactions initiated by individuals who fall under participation bans. Financial institutions must block payments linked to the purchase of electronic lottery entries when they involve restricted persons.
The decree also eliminates the use of cash for funding lottery accounts. Participants will only be able to top up balances through cashless transactions, ensuring that all payments are traceable within the banking system.
This move increases transparency and enables tighter monitoring of lottery-related financial flows.
Shift toward greater traceability
While the decree does not alter the structure of Belarus’s lottery system itself, it strengthens compliance mechanisms around it.
By integrating banks into the enforcement chain and removing cash-based funding options, authorities have created a more controlled transactional environment. The approach mirrors broader international trends where regulators increasingly rely on financial tracking to support gambling oversight.
Electronic instant lotteries will continue to operate, but under tighter access rules and with reduced anonymity in funding.
The changes take effect immediately under the new decree, reinforcing Belarus’s more restrictive stance toward digitally delivered gambling-style products.