Russia: Duma passes gambling zone bill
Russia’s State Duma has unanimously passed President Vladimir Putin’s bill restricting gambling in the country. The lower house of Parliament passed the bill on the first reading by a 440-0 vote, with just one abstention.
The bill outlines new gambling zones within Russia and a new set of legislation for permits within these areas. President Putin proposed the new law after a sting operation was launched in Moscow by the Interior Ministry to check gambling establishments allegedly linked with the Georgian mafia.
The law will now be passed through the upper house and will come into effect in January 2009 if supported.
The bill also outlines requirements for owners, who must be Russian legal entities whose net assets are not less than 600 million rubles - about us$ 22 million.