Armenia has officially started blocking gambling websites, marking the first step in increasing internet censorship in their country.
The government has set up a system (no official name yet) similar to Russia’s Roskomnadzor, allowing authorities to ban online casinos and betting sites that don’t meet national registration rules.
Talks about these restrictions started back in 2022 when officials suggested blocking not only gambling platforms but also websites promoting illegal drugs and other “criminal activities.” They even pointed to Russia as an example of how to handle control internet. By the end of 2023, Armenia passed new laws tightening gambling regulations, and by October 2024, these rules came into effect.
Now, just four months later, the first websites have been blocked. But is this just the beginning? If things continue to escalate, we might see even more websites getting banned in the near future.
History has a way of repeating itself. Governments always say they’re cracking down “for the good of the people,” to keep everyone safe from harm. But it never really stops there, does it? What starts as a “good cause” can quickly turn into, “We’ll block anything that threatens the ones in power—and maybe even more.”
We hope Armenia doesn’t head down that road and that the internet stays as free as possible for everyone in the country.