With just three weeks to go, the Russian Ministry of Economic Development asked Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to “reconsider” the law that will close by July 1 all casinos and slot halls that have not relocated to one of the four designated gaming zones.
    The reason for the request is that none of the four zones is anywhere near being ready to accept gaming operations, due to the lack of prepared infrastructure. The government rejected all previous calls for delaying the move.
    The Moscow Times reported that Moscow Deputy Mayor Sergei Baidakov said the shutdown would only affect about 4,000 Moscow residents employed in the local gaming industry, and that the city had received notice of more than 10,000 layoffs as of late April. The city had 29 casinos and about 520 slot parlors still in operation.
    Although casino gaming and slots are to become illegal outside the gambling zones, poker and sports betting will be permitted at licensed sporting clubs. Tournament poker is recognized by Russian law as a sport. Alcohol and tobacco will not be allowed in these clubs.
    David Chichua of the Moscow Sport Poker Federation said there are 60 poker clubs registered in Moscow, but only 5 percent of them are certified.
    According to Lyubov Loginova, who chairs the board at gaming operator and supplier Alsart, Moscow and St. Petersburg are the leading markets for the new poker sport. The number of poker clubs continues to grow. The Federation of Sportive Poker receives get requests for certification of clubs on a daily basis.

By GGB Staff

Staff writers for Global Gaming Business magazine. Las Vegas, Nevada.