Russian Poker Players May Have to Travel Out-of-Town

Monday, 27 November 2006

As the UK looks at relaxing its gaming laws, Russia has conversely taken a step towards tightening up its legislation this week, as the Duma approved the first reading of a new gambling bill.

As the UK looks at relaxing its gaming laws, Russia has conversely taken a step towards tightening up its legislation this week, as the Duma approved the first reading of a new gambling bill.
Proposed by President Vladimir Putin, the new legislation will create four special gambling zones and ban the industry everywhere else.
If the bill passes without modification by the end of the year, it would lead to the closure of casinos and poker rooms in Russia's cities. The only gambling establishments that will be allowed will be in four special zones located in unpopulated regions. There will be two in European Russia, one in Siberia and one in the Far East.
Gambling establishments that are currently licensed and operating in cities will have a certain amount of time to close down or relocate, depending on the size of the establishment.
In Moscow alone, which won’t apply to become a gambling zone, more than 500 gambling businesses will have to close or relocate. The Association for the Development of the Gaming Business predicts the entire gambling industry could shrink by at least 70 per cent by July 2007 with the implementation of the bill.



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