Strict New Gambling Laws in Mongolia Target Repeat Offenders
Parliament of Mongolia enacts comprehensive prohibition on gambling activities
In a bold move to combat economic losses and curb capital flight, the parliament of Mongolia has approved sweeping amendments to criminalize all forms of paid gambling and betting activities in the country. The new laws, which were approved during the spring session of the State Great Khural in March 2025, impose harsh penalties for operating gambling businesses and for repeat violations.
The new framework specifically addresses repeat offenders and violations involving payment systems and digital platforms. Those repeatedly using payment accounts, electronic money, virtual assets, communication network numbers, or electronic identifiers to organize gambling activities face separate criminal charges.
The operation of all gambling operations is now considered a criminal offence under Mongolia's Criminal Code. Operators not abiding by the ban may face significant penalties including fines, community service of 240 to 720 hours, travel restrictions lasting six months to one year, or imprisonment terms of six months to three years.
For organizing paid prediction, betting, or online gambling games for profit, whether in public or online, violations are classified as a criminal offense. Penalties include fines ranging from 2,700 to 14,000 basic units, mandatory community service of 240 to 720 hours, restriction of travel rights for six months to one year, and imprisonment for six months to three years.
Repeat offenses involving the use of payment accounts, electronic money, virtual assets, telecommunications numbers, or electronic identifiers (one’s own or others’) to organize gambling activities, incur similar but somewhat reduced penalties. Fines from 450 to 5,400 basic units, community service of 240 to 720 hours, travel restrictions for six months to one year, and imprisonment for six months to one year are the penalties for such offenses.
Individuals promoting or soliciting gambling are subject to administrative penalties, including fines for violations or illegal advertising under the Law on Administrative Violations. The legislation in Mongolia classifies any encouragement of paid gambling as a violation under Mongolia's Law on Violations, making advertising such activities illegal.
The Law on Amendments to the Law on Licensing, discussed and approved by the government on 26 March 2025, enacts a complete prohibition of commercial gambling operations across Mongolia. Supporting tax legislation, including provisions within the Law on Excise Tax covering gambling equipment and relevant sections of corporate income tax, personal income tax, and small business support laws, have been repealed following the gambling prohibition.
In summary, the amended law sets harsher penalties (up to three years imprisonment and higher fines) for initial operators, while repeat violations incur similarly strict but somewhat reduced imprisonment and fine ranges. Community service and travel restrictions are consistently applied across offenses. The new legislation in Mongolia does not allow for any commercial gambling operations.
- The new laws in Mongolia, imposed to combat economic losses and curb capital flight, criminalize all paid gambling and betting activities, imposing harsh penalties for operators repeatedly using payment accounts, electronic money, virtual assets, communication network numbers, or electronic identifiers to organize gambling activities.
- Operators not abiding by the ban may face significant penalties, including fines, community service, travel restrictions, or imprisonment, for organizing paid prediction, betting, or online gambling games for profit, whether in public or online.
- The Law on Amendments to the Law on Licensing, enacted in March 2022, prohibits commercial gambling operations across Mongolia, leading to the repeal of supporting tax legislation, including provisions within the Law on Excise Tax, corporate income tax, personal income tax, and small business support laws.
- The amended law classifies any encouragement of paid gambling as a violation under Mongolia's Law on Violations, making advertising such activities illegal, and subjects individuals promoting or soliciting gambling to administrative penalties, including fines for violations or illegal advertising.
- Gambling policies and legislation in Mongolia have become stricter, targeting repeat offenders and those operating in the iGaming sector, in a move that also includes the scrutiny of politics, crime, and general news related to gambling and betting activities.
