NO GAMBLING MEANS NO TAXES PAID
1900 gambling facilities were closed in 2006. “Tax collections have not reduced, they have even grown 3%”, he informs. And Ordjonikidze comments that 5-6 major gambling operators are still paying large taxes, just as they used to.
He also remarks that last year the city treasury received 5bn 2mn rubles of gambling taxes. “This year we will collect about 4bn rubles, but after July 1st, 2009, the city losses will be about 6bn rubles a year”, says Ordjonikidze. At present there are 890 gambling facilities in Moscow, which include 49 casinos and 741 slot halls.
From July 1st, 2007, 322 slot halls and 22 casinos will be left in Moscow. Vice Mayor reminds that after July 1st, 2007, no more gambling facilities may be open in Moscow, but the owners still have a loophole.
They may relocate a gambling facility from one building to another, registering it at the new address under the condition that the new area is larger, he notes.
In addition Ordjonikidze says that Moscow gambling operators have not expressed any wish to move to the newly-created gaming zones so far.
the “Delovaya Moskva”