Putin Signs Off on Gambling Zones in Sochi and Crimea

By The Moscow Times

July 23, 2014

President Vladimir Putin has signed a law paving the way for casinos to be built in recently annexed Crimea and the post-Olympic resort town Sochi.

The law, which was published Wednesday on the government's legislation portal, stipulates that casinos in Sochi can only be set up in Olympic facilities whose construction was paid for by private investors.

By contrast, the Crimean authorities can freely choose locations for the gambling zones on the peninsula.

The appearance of casinos in Crimea could inflate the new Russian republic's budget by 25 billion rubles ($718 million) annually, analysts have said.

In 2009, the government restricted gambling to four designated zones throughout Russia, but only the Azov-City gambling complex on the border of the Krasnodar and Rostov regions has been completed. Gaming zones in the Kaliningrad and Primorye regions and the republic of Altai are still under construction.

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue