Russian Casino Gambling Zones Poorly Planned
Russian casino operators are saying the country's proposed four special gaming zones will never blossom as currently planned. Members of the Moscow gambling industry say a lack of infrastructure and reluctance of owners to relocate so far from the urban populations which comprise their customers put the casino zones in jeopardy of never taking off.
Lavrenty Gubin, a representative of gaming operator Storm International, says nothing has been built or accomplished in the four designated zones, despite a deadline for all other casinos and gambling venues to close as of July 1st. The zones are in Siberia, on the Pacific coastline, on the Black Sea, and in southern Russia.
"Nobody feels like moving there, besides there is no infrastructure in those special zones, and nothing has been built there yet," said Gubin.
More likely, according to Gubin, will be the opening of black market casinos, run by current operators who refuse to leave. Moscow would lose the taxes the legal casinos pay, almost $200 million in local revenue.
Gubin asserted that the zone plan would cost too many jobs and remove gaming from over a million regular customers in Moscow alone.
