In 2009, gambling in Russia became illegal outside of the country’s four designated but far-flung gambling zones located in the Baltic, Siberia, Far East, and southern Russia.
However, the Russian governments attempts to create these casino gambling zones has so far proved unsuccessful, with just RUB100m ($3.13m) in tax revenues having been collected from an investment of RUB1.4bn ($44.7m) over the past three years.
Now the country is hoping to cash in on the Asian casino boom after announcing that state-owned Nash Dom Primorye was seeking private investors to develop casinos in Vladivostok, which is around 300 miles from the Chinese border. Also, with just a few hours flight necessary from Beijing, Seoul, South Korea, and Tokyo, the Russian government is hoping the area may one day generate between $2 and $7 billion in revenue annually, with Marina Lomakina, general director of Nash Dom Primorye commenting:
“Over the next five years, the Russian Federation will continue to have a strong strategic interest in the economic development of the Far East region. Our view is that the tourism sector is a strategic economic opportunity that has yet to be fully developed.”
Part of the lure for Asian tourists may be the attraction of visiting a nearby but culturally different location, with the area aiming to offer all round entertainment for visitors and not just casino gambling. Investors are invited to submit their tenders over a 60 day period starting June with the government evaluating company pitches in October.
Commenting on the recent announcement, Bo Bernhard from the International Gaming Institute at Nevada University, said: “We have no north Asia port for gambling. For a long time the debate has been, will it be Korea or Japan and all of a sudden Russia is in play. It’s an interesting opportunity.”
LOTTERY EXPO 2013
Co-Hosted by PGRI and the
Florida Lottery
November 4 to 7, Miami, Florida,
Trump Miami Beach Hotel
18001 Collins Ave., Sunny Isles Beach, Florida
Phone: Domestic: 855.244.2964 International: 786.522.3523
**Use Group Code 10W820 to get our
special rate
===================================================
SMART-TECH 2013
PLATINUM SPONSORS


SILVER SPONSORS
Thank you to all
of you who presented, served on a
panel discussion, and participated
at Smart-Tech. This was PGRI’s
fourth annual event in NYC and has
become a great venue for lotteries
to delve into the most relevant
issues of the hour, and we so
appreciate the privilege of hosting
it and visiting with you. The next
issue of PGRI Magazine will include
an in-depth analysis of the issues
we explored. Too, the conference
was video-recorded and will be made
freely available to everyone on
www.PGRItalks.com. We’ve
received much positive feedback and
hope that everyone accomplished
their objectives. Our next event
will be held at the Trump Miami
Beach Hotel on November 4, 5, 6, and
7th. Lottery Expo Miami
is especially exciting for the
participation from our colleagues in
Latin America. The North America
track is on Tuesday, the LatAm track
on Thursday, and we all come
together on Wednesday. Thanks to the
support of our commercial partners
and sponsors, the hosted receptions
held every night of the conference
have become a wonderful venue to
talk with industry leaders from all
around the world. Please check in at
www.PublicGaming.org for PGRI
conference updates. Thank you again
- We look forward to seeing you
again. Please e-mail me (pjason@publicgaming.com)
with any questions, feedback,
guidance, or comments of any kind.
Smart-Tech 2013 was held
April 8,
9, 10, 2013
at the Helmsley Park Lane,
New York.
PUBLIC GAMING OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012
Click here to read the .pdf version
PUBLIC GAMING SEPTEMBER 2012
Click here to view the .pdf version
PUBLIC GAMING MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2012