Pluss, minuses and features of gaming business in Latvia
In the Latvian press more than once run words that shortly Riga, the capital of the Latvian republic, becomes small Las Vegas. By the way, similar comparisons for this country are not new, for example one not big Latvian town Sigulda - familiar to those who during Soviet times visited LSSR - name the Latvian Switzerland (Alexander III has named for the first time for beauty of Sigulda’s landscape Alexander III has named). If also it could not convince you - consider! - the population of Riga about one million, and the quantity of halls with pinball machines comes nearer to 300, and it is necessary to take into account still that fact, that gaming in Latvia promptly develops. Pinball machines especially here have succeeded, and about them there will be a speech for it is the basic bias of gaming in this country. Halls of pinball machines are concentrated basically in downtown - and it turns out, that they almost continually. To explain it it is possible scale - Riga is not a big city. And it is a lot of still that is connected with scales of Latvia in sphere of gaming, almost all pluss and minuses make a start from the sizes of this young state.
Latvia is in territory of so-called postSoviet space and it is not difficult to guess, that gaming started to arise there in the beginning of the 90th. Firms of gaming have started to appear easy, not hasty, can even is cautious - the law was not. At that time they simply soared in free flight … And only in 1994 two organic laws have left:
« About lotteries and gambles » and the law « About the duty and the tax to lotteries and gambles».
How passed the way of development of firm which primary activity, extraction of the income from carrying out of gambles and a bet? We shall consider it by the example of one of the most successful companies - firms " DLV ". In 2002 Management of Statistics of Latvia has recognized it one of most « promptly evolved enterprises in Latvia during the period with 1998 for 2000».
Firm "DLV" in 1994 has been organized in structure of only two persons under the direction of its permanent director Volokotkin Michael Valentinovich. Originally the firm was engaged in manufacture of own devices, to be exact - their assembly. For that moment the firm made devices on the basis of the wooden case of form Slant Top and equipped with their payments poker games. The first prototype of these devices was called «Blue Diamond». When in 1994 in Latvia the law on legalization of gambles and lotteries has been accepted, DLV began to work also in the direction of creation of a network of own game halls which name till now was saved. It - «Zilais Dimants», or «Blue diamond».
By the way about the legislation. During 10 years both laws changed and supplemented not much, it is not not enough - 14 times (at times more than once a year!). It occured to solve actual problems for that moment, and also, to enter maintained by one or other political authority principles of commercial activity. And let change were not so significant, but, as is known, even the sting of a mosquito can deliver a great deal of trouble, and if a sting isn’t also one. In general, firms had to be arranged, make additional courses somehow. For example, last addition to the law – « the Law on three lotteries » - firms cannot make for one year more than three lotteries. It in the certain degree strikes at their rights for if the company big also scope should be corresponding but only three lotteries is a minimum, that it is possible to make for the client. Plus to all of norm laws in the bulk cases are ambiguous and quite often inconsistent. A similar situation and with taxes - they too constantly vary and grow. Only, in 2003 taxes to the organization of gaming outside of game halls have increased twice.
It is natural, that all this puts the firms working in sphere of business of gambles and a bet in certain frameworks, but on each poison there is a antidote. Almost at once, as the law has left, the Latvian Association of Gaming has been based - there was it on October, 3, 1995. In the world of business to one firm to survive isn’t easily, therefore and the association has been created to protect rights and interests of the industry before legislators, for struggle against the bureaucratic device. But on it its powers do not come to the end - due to association each firm can independently express the sights at problems of the market. Direct dialogue carries on with the state and if there is no opportunity to participate in creation of laws and amendments to them, at least, there is a confidence that any law will pass by noticed as it quite often happens in Russia. Also the association deals with problems which can arise inside the market - the problem will be as more as possible effectively to balance crossed interests of firms which business is submitted in bars and cafe, the firms having the game halls and a casino, and firms going in both directions.
Board of association - representatives of all companies included in it ( 13 of them). Decisions are accepted democratically - by voting. There is an association on annual and entrance fees of founders and members, donations and gifts of separate physical persons. Though charges are not so great - means go on the organization of actions on advertising and popularization of gaming, publishing, protection of association and its members before the person of the law.
Firm " DLV ", as well as many others, at once has supported idea of creation of association in 1995. And it is not poorly important, for as already it has been said above, the firm takes a significant place and not only in the Latvian market.
Moreover, it is possible to name safely it and the innovator! For example, it is the first Latvian firm which had the stand at the London exhibition in 2003. For firm, and for Latvia, it was the big sensation for it fixes trust, image of firm and, certainly, it is an output to Europe and Russia. The basic purposes and problemsDLV today - an output on the international level, on the western market.
For the first time they were exposed at the exhibition in Kiev in 2000, and already during 4th years, they constant participants of the Ukrainian exhibition. Though through the partners they at the exhibition since 1998. Then there was Moscow and "Eelex"-2002. In 2004 there was an exhibition on which firm " DLV " in Kazakhstan for the first time has been submitted. In October of this year they plan trip to Poland for "Surexpo exhibition. Well, and, certainly, Las Vegas, but, the truth while only as spectators - experience to be collected. And service commands periodically go on seminars and conferences in the European and Asian countries, such as Germany, England, Taiwan. It gives experts of a department of manufacture and development, and also a department of service and repair an opportunity constantly to get new experience and ideas for development, allows to render to clients high-quality support and operative repair. In fact their motto - quality, mobility, efficiency!
5 years firm "DLV" annually organizes the domestic exhibition which about confidence can be named one of the major events in sphere of gaming in Latvia. And on August, 19-20 this year in Riga 5-th international and most grandiose domestic exhibition of Gaming has passed. It has been dated for 10-years anniversary of firm. For the Latvian gaming is furor as even the Latvian press which basically accents the looking at the political events, has not passed the exhibition.
The company has invited friends, partners and colleagues to sum with its up a hard work during all years of existence. It is necessary to note, that the fifth domestic exhibition was closed. Visitors at the exhibition could track stages of industrial development of firm, see last achievements - the newest game equipment, together with prospects of development of manufacture on the future. During "DLV exhibition representatives of the largest international companies have visited: JVH Gaming, WMS Gaming, STELLA International, OPS Interactive, ATRONIC International and others and as it is a lot of the companies from Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania and Estonia.
Today firm "DLV" has more than 45 game halls. And approximately 30 of them are in Riga. The others are scattered on the single in other territory of Latvia. The same situation is other firms also. And some areas thus in general unrestrained territory though frequently it is connected to an economic situation of the country. Not uniform distribution of halls is one more feature of gaming in Latvia. To take, for example, the Latvian area Latgalija which is located closely to Russia, he is considered in general , almost one of the poorest in Europe. And settlements in Latvia represent at all that in Russia. Even Russian village are small houses, whether hardly with one wall along road, and in Latvia on some kilometers only one farm and for whom a game hall to open? And farms it was saved not a little - the country is agricultural. In such situation it is very important not be mistaken and correctly choose a site of the future game hall. Also that is very interesting to notice, even in such areas the game hall will be at a high level. Because also a competition is very rigid - besides scales (which it was mentioned at the beginning), and the market is sated enough, up to that new firms practically have no place to locate. Even the quantity of the gambling equipment has reached the maximal limit, in opinion of many participants of the market. Therefore on game halls many efforts are spent. It is not simple a place where it is possible to play - though such, too take place, but it is more likely exception, than a rule. Game halls of Latvia is a whole complex of entertainments. As a rule, the room is divided into two half - directly game hall and a pleasant cosy bar where you can have a rest, drink and dinner. That it was convenient for each client, that he felt the most protected, and he did not have sensation, that else something imposed. It will be necessary a billiard table, and even some tables, a darts, and simply entertaining devices. In the some people there are also musical devices - a reminder on the western cinematograph. The culture of service is always at the highest level, and a problem of language is solved and is extremely simple - if you do not understand Latvian, any worker of the Latvian hall will speak Russian with you.
In some halls there is also nurseries parts, a children's menu. For example, there can be a small little table with stools, and there are cubes, a mosaic, etc. And to the children's menu for small visitors are small souvenirs - for example a toy pinball machine are applied. Well, and, certainly, where without competitions, holidays, karaoke. And tournaments on billiards or a darts are in a fashion here too.
If to take small small town with the population approximately 20 thousand, and there will be a pair of cafe, and one « on hurrah! » The equipped game hall it will make a competition not only as a place of gambles. Inhabitants go there not only to play - simply to sit, communicate to friends, to drink a cup of beer. And not necessarily each visitor should to play necessarily.
Now about pluss of the small sizes of Latvia - to the big firms of gaming a storm, hurricanes are not so terrible! They already run, and the small territory helps to not sink. The risk is considerably reduced, if firm is big and known.
Certainly, not last place occupy both aspirations! Well and care of the client, in fact, as they say, the client is always right! And more one conclusive advantage of Riga, and all Baltic cities, before other cities of the countries of the former Soviet union - cleanliness. And still Riga becomes better and better. And halls are worthy to all city. They are bright, calling, worthy cities and as a result, they cannot simply get lost on the general background.
As to game halls «Zilais Dimants» they work in three directions - club system with thematic design, with design of a class "casino" - for those who to aspire to something to smarter; and for players which prefer more democratic conditions. Exclusively the psychology of the client, as here works service always top-level.
And more a pair of words about Latvia - now it is a part of Europe - not so long ago this small Baltic state has entered the European Community. So also the generallevel should raise, and, that is natural, the level of game halls will raise. And Riga completely is not far from us, may be there will be a desire to play in Riga’s game hall? Believe, you will not regret at all!
Sofia Bakayeva