EU Imposes Sanctions on Online Casino Belbet and Several Belarusian Companies
The EU has added RUE “Belarusian Lotteries” to its sanctions list — a state-owned enterprise under the Administration of the President of Belarus.
Despite its status as a lottery operator, almost 100% of the company’s revenue comes from operating the online casino Belbet.
What is Belbet and Why Was It Sanctioned?
Officially, Belbet is referred to as an online lottery in Belarus, but in reality, it functions as a full-scale online casino, offering slot games without conducting traditional lottery draws.
According to media reports, Belbet is fully state-controlled and used to generate revenue while bypassing transparent tax mechanisms. This was one of the reasons it was added to the EU sanctions list.
In addition, the IT company LLC “Ridotto”, which developed and maintains the Belbet platform, was also sanctioned.
Other Companies Sanctioned
The sanctions were not limited to Belbet. The European Union expanded its restrictions and added several more Belarusian companies to the blacklist:
- OJSC “Integral” – a holding company of the Integral enterprise
- OJSC “Planar” – a microelectronics manufacturer
- SPUE “Precision Electromechanics Plant” – part of the State Military-Industrial Committee structure
- LLC “TSYBULKA-BEL” – a company owned by German businessman Jörg Dornau
According to the EU, all of these companies are, in one way or another, linked to supporting the state regime in Belarus.
Individuals Sanctioned
The updated sanctions list also includes 25 individuals, including members of the Central Election Commission, judges, government officials, and businesspeople.
Some of them include:
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Aleksei Bashan | Deputy Chair of the Central Election Commission |
| Elena Baldovskaya | Secretary of the Central Election Commission |
| Oleg Romanov | Leader of the “Belaya Rus” party |
| Dina Kuchuk | Judge of the Supreme Court |
| Yury Nazarov | Head of the Presidential Administration |
| Mikhail Denisenko | Director of RUE “Belarusian Lotteries” |
| Sergey Avakov | CEO of OJSC “Planar” |
Each individual was listed with specific justifications for their inclusion.
History of Sanctions Expansion
This is not the first tightening of EU sanctions against Belarus. The previous expansion occurred on December 16, 2024. At that time, the list was extended to include:
- 26 individuals
- 2 companies
Among them were judges, heads of correctional facilities, administrative officials, and members of the legal community.
What the Sanctions Entail
The sanctions include restrictions on:
- Access to foreign financial systems
- Licensing
- Technology
- Marketing channels
These restrictions significantly complicate the international activities of the listed companies and individuals.