Governor to speak about the planned “Federal Gaming Zones” in Russia
Mikhail Men’ - Governor of Ivanovo Province in Russia will give a short introduction to current plans of the Russian Government in establishing "Gaming Zones" within Russia at the European Casino Summit in London, 6 – 7 December. Men’ is joined by Mikhail Gubernatorov, Vice - President of Association "World of Games", Russia who will give a brief and general review of the current gaming situation in the country.
Russia’s us$ 6 billion gambling business boasts of 56 casinos and 5,000 slot halls with some 56,000 slot machines. Another 9,000 slot machines can be found on the streets. The Kremlin has set its sights on gambling in recent weeks and the proposed gambling bill calls for the federal government to re-impose state regulation over gambling and to sweep small-time casinos and slot machines from the streets of Russian cities. This new initiative will see just 540 casinos and gambling centres in operation by the end of the year.
By 2009 the gambling industry would be concentrated into four regional gaming colonies -- two in European Russia, one in Siberia, and one in the Far East. The exact locations of these zones are to be kept secret and Men’ is Governor of one of the potential “Gaming Zones.” Men’ and Gubernatorov join a host of casino industry experts and executive directors at a two-day industry summit in London. This European Casino Summit runs in London on December 6 and 7 and full information can be found at www.bulletbusiness.com/casino
The proposed Gambling Bill is also set to contain severe restrictions on other forms of gambling - including via the Internet and by mobile phone. Thibault Verbiest, Attorney at Law at the Paris and Brussels Bars partnered with ULYS Law Firm comments on the growth of online casinos, “The biggest trend [in the European casino market] would probably be that traditional land based casinos are going online: casino sites were amongst the first to appear when the online gambling industry emerged a few years back”
Thibault continues, “Undoubtedly the deregulation or rather “re-regulation” of the gambling market will have the biggest impact on the land-based casino industry in Europe as land based casinos will face increasing competition from their online operating counterparts.”
“Russia has been at the forefront of rapid change in the last few months for all those involved in the casino and gambling business,” says Anita Yaa Agyeman, Director of The European Casino Summit, “we are very pleased that we have a representative from one of the more dynamic casino regions present to share his insights with attendees at this important gathering.”
Hosted by independent Gaming consultants, Bullet Business, The European Casino Summit is co-located with 6 other gambling specific conferences, workshops and a large networking calendar that includes a Poker Tournament, Charity Auction and the Industry Xmas Party.
Addressing the business of Poker, land-based Casinos, Online Bingo and New Product Development in 4 individual conferences, the summit also confirms separate Legal and Marketing workshops. Bullet Business Europe ‘06 brings together key companies in gaming and gambling to address how sustainable advantage can be secured in a climate of rapid regulatory change and unprecedented growth.
The European Casino Summit is co-located with Bullet Business Europe ‘06 runs in London on December 6 and 7. Full information on the Bullet Business Europe 2006 can be found at www.bulletbusiness.com/europe06