Russia’s position where gambling establishments to cease operating on June 30, 2009


Russian President Dimitry Medvedev has given very clear notification to the Federal Tax Service chief, Mikhail Hokretsov that he would not tolerate any delays in moving all gambling to the special regional zones within two months, despite lobbying by casino owners and investors.

 

Casinos must be closed, and betting will be banned outside the zones, which are located in areas on the Azov Sea, in the Far East and in the Altai and Kaliningrad regions. Casino owners complained tat they will be forced to transform their establishments into less profitable restaurants, concert halls and even poker clubs. Currently there are 549 gambling establishments in the capital. The Moscow Times