A. Shokhin: there won`t be enough time to create a “Russian Las Vegas” by 2009
The gambling law according to which all casinos shall be concentrated in several special zones will not start working in 2009, believes Alexandr Shokhin, President of Russian Manufacturers and Entrepreneurs` Association (RMEA).
“We have chosen to follow the USA`s path in creating gaming zones but resources and possibilities were underestimated,” thinks RMEA President. Therefore the timeframes of relocating casinos to gaming zones are most likely to be shifted, and until that time laws on gambling operations are to be toughened.
Among probable restriction options, Shokhin named limiting the access to casinos, reducing the number of gambling facilities, toughening gambling operations standards.
RMEA President does not agree with the choice of sites for the gaming zones to be located. He insists on cancelling the construction of gaming centres on the border between Rostov region and Krasnodar region. “You can not make the city of Sochi ready for the Olympics 2014 and build a “Las Vegas” at the same time,” stated Shokhin, and added that the project on creating a gaming zone in the Far East also needs amendment.