For those whose passion is sport and passion is nature, the desire to win and win should be the second self. To realize such character traits is possible only in one place - in a casino. Where can I legally play casinos in Russia today?
The conditions for the existence of gambling establishments in the Russian Federation are determined by law, which states that special territories should be allocated for their location. Where are the official gaming areas in Russia? What is their history and perspectives?
Special administrative and territorial object
The gaming zone in Russia is a special administrative and territorial object intended for the organization and conduct of various gambling.
Since July 2009, the conduct of any gambling activity outside such zones in Russia is prohibited by law. The exceptions are bookmakers, sweepstakes and sweepstakes. The law regulates the organization and liquidation of such facilities, their name and the definition of boundaries.
Gambling zones, in accordance with the law, can be placed exclusively outside the settlements. On their territory should not be planned the construction of permanent settlements.
Where are the game zones in Russia predetermined by law?
For the organization of such territories, the government allocated four sites. On some of them, existing gaming complexes are already located, on others, the organization of the casino zone is under consideration and discussion.
Active facilities
- Azov City. One of the first active gaming zones. Located in the Krasnodar Territory. Initially, it was planned to place the zone on the border between the Krasnodar Territory and the neighboring Rostov Region. Subsequently, the liquidation of the Rostov part of the zone was undertaken. Today, Azov City is the largest of the four gambling zones available in the Russian Federation.
- Gambling zone “Siberian coin”. Its location is Altai Territory. Since December 2015, the first open-air casino complex Altai Palace has several gaming halls; in addition, work is underway at the hotel and some other parts of the complex. According to official figures, in 2015, about 17 thousand people became visitors to the gambling zone.
Development plans are discussed: "Amber"
Amber is a game zone in Russia, the development plan of which is under discussion in the government. Located in the Kaliningrad region. For a long time, despite the active investment of funds in the project, the development of the gaming zone, according to estimates, was not effective enough. In April 2014, its territory was increased by almost 1 km. The governor of the Kaliningrad region made a proposal to discuss the concept of the gambling zone. It is believed that "Amber" should develop as a special tourist and recreational area without focusing on the gambling business. An example is the popular German resort town of Baden-Baden.
Pending
In April 2014, the media reported that, according to the bill introduced by President Vladimir Putin, free play zones in Russia could be created on the Crimean peninsula, which is de facto part of the Russian Federation. Reportedly, a search is underway for a place for their optimal location. The most likely option is the southern coast of Crimea.
The issue of creating a gambling zone in Crimea was raised even during the control of the peninsula by Ukraine. In March 2014, after he became part of Russia, the government again began to consider the creation of a special economic zone on the peninsula. Initially, the initiative was severely criticized by the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, but received support from Sergei Aksyonov, and. about. Prime Minister of Crimea.
Suggested options
- "Golden Sands". A large resort complex in the suburbs of Anapa, including a gambling zone. It was originally proposed as a change in the Azov-City facility, which was rated as less promising.
- A game zone was also planned in Sochi. In Russia, as was noted by President V. Putin, the city has the image of a family resort, so at first the creation of a gambling zone in it was considered inappropriate. A number of media outlets published a proposal by Prime Minister D. Medvedev to begin construction of a gambling zone in Sochi after the Winter Olympics. Information was soon disproved. Later, the prime minister and several other experts and officials criticized this idea. Various publications have expressed the idea that the Sochi Game Zone project in Russia cannot be implemented in the near future. But in 2014, the government returned to the consideration of this issue.
- Gambling zone in Buryatia. The creation of a gambling complex in this territory was proposed by members of the Public Chamber of the Republic. The idea was started to be considered back in 2008 to include Buryatia in the project “game zones of Russia”. It turned out to be quite problematic to arrange a casino on its territory even then. The idea was protested by various activists, members of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation especially criticized it.
- "Primorye." The complex should have been designed and built in the resort area on the shore of Muravyina bay (Cape Turtle, Ussuri Bay). The distance to the airport here is 23 km, to Vladivostok (the capital of the region) - 70 km. The total area of the gambling zone is about 620 ha. According to the project “gaming zones of Russia”, the casino in Primorye was supposed to be located in four institutions, each containing 10 VIPs, 20 poker and 45 gambling tables, as well as 1000 slot machines. In addition, it is planned to build three hotels with a capacity of 600 rooms, which meets the modern standards of popular online casinos. Shopping and entertainment centers, bars and restaurants, conference and banquet halls, beauty salons and spa salons, sports, entertainment and public-business complexes were also to be built on the territory of the complex. The project provides for the creation of a hippodrome, golf courses and ski resort. Now the construction of the Primorye gaming zone is under development.
Azov City: location
One of the first operating domestic gambling zones, which the Russians rightfully call "our Las Vegas." Located on the coast of the Sea of Azov (Taganrog Bay) in the Krasnodar Territory. The closest major city, located 50 kilometers from the gambling complex, is Yeysk (resort city). Within a radius of 200 kilometers from the zone are Azov, Krasnodar, Taganrog, Rostov-on-Don.
The gambling zone was initially located on the border between the Krasnodar Territory and the neighboring Rostov Region; over time, the Rostov part of the complex was liquidated.
Azov City is located between two settlements: the village of Port Caton and the Molchanovka farm. The area is about 1000 hectares. The complex is equipped with the necessary engineering infrastructure, communications and access roads.
Casino
One of the largest casinos in Russia is the Oracle facility located on the territory of Azov-City, the area of which is about 4000 sq.m. Its owner is Rashid Taymasov.
The assets of M. Smolentsev’s company are also located in Azov-City: Shambhala casino (area is about 1400 sq. M), hotel and Nirvana - the newest domestic casino with 1400 sq. M. m
The Oracle casino was built by the Royal Time Company (Kazan). The first phase of the facility for customers was opened in January 2010. In September 2010, the second phase of the Oracle casino was launched. After that, the area of the complex amounted to more than 4 thousand square meters. m. For fans of gambling here are offered a hall for VIP-guests (7 game tables), a casino room (5 game tables), a VIP-hall (3 game tables). In addition, there are tête-à-tête incognito apartments. The casino provides for five tables for tournament poker, a premium-class hotel (11 rooms) is open, a slot room with a stage is functioning (the total number of slot machines totals 300 units). The company invested about 400 million rubles in the construction of the Oracle.
Shambhala casino began operating in Azov City in October 2010. Its owner is Park City LLC. The total area of the complex is approximately 1.5 thousand square meters. m. About 175 million rubles were invested in the project. The gambling establishment "Shambhala" is located 100 meters from the "Oracle". The casino is equipped with 12 gambling tables, 130 units of slot machines, there is a poker room for conducting sports poker competitions. Shambhala also has several VIP rooms for private play and a concert venue.
The owner of the third casino is Nirvana - Shambhala CJSC. The institution was opened in October 2013. The volume of investments in this project is about 200 million rubles.
According to the new law
In November 2010, the government passed a law in accordance with which the Rostov region was excluded from the list of regions allowed to host gambling zones. The law also predetermined that the Rostov part of the southern gaming territory will be moved to a new place: in the region of the Annunciation spit.
In March 2012, the government approved a change in the boundaries of the Azov City gambling complex. 800 hectares of land joined it near the village of Blagoveshchensk (45 km from Anapa).
The right to lease a land area of 240 hectares for the implementation of a gambling investment project for a period of 20 years was obtained by the company Adaptas (Rus).
Plans
In 2016, it was planned to open the first facility in the Anapa resort area on the territory of the gambling complex - a five-star hotel with a casino. The cost of this project is estimated at 11 billion rubles. In general, the company planned to build five hotels with a casino and a golf park in the gambling zone. The volume of investments in this project is more than 16 billion rubles.
It was planned that the area of Azov City will be approximately 20.02 million square meters. m (about 2 thousand hectares). Half of the territory (1000 ha) was supposed to be located in the Rostov region, the second half - in the Krasnodar Territory.
The gaming zone provided for the placement of numerous slot machine halls, casino establishments, sweepstakes, bookmakers, online casino halls, restaurants, bars, various resort, cultural and sports facilities. A varied selection of gambling was planned, not inferior to the list of Europa Casino. It was planned to create transport hubs and interchanges: the airport, bus station, train stations, as well as the construction of other necessary facilities for the development of infrastructure.
Rumors of closure
In 2015, information appeared in the media that the liquidation of one of two active domestic gaming zones - Azov City (Krasnodar Territory) was ahead. The state is obliged to pay investors compensation - about 10 billion rubles.
The liquidation of the zone is necessary in connection with amendments to the federal law “On Gambling Activities” (July 27, 2014). On the one hand, these amendments expanded the list of regions that are entitled to place gambling businesses on their territory. Previously, the list included the Krasnodar Territory, Altai, Primorye and the Kaliningrad Region. Now Crimea has been added to them. On the other hand, it was stipulated that in the Kuban the placement of gambling zones is limited exclusively to the areas allocated for the construction of federal Olympic facilities.
What is planned instead of the liquidated facility?
As it became known to the media, instead of Azov City (Krasnodar Territory), a new gambling complex will be built - in the zone of Sochi's Olympic venues.
In Sochi, it is planned to place a gambling zone at the Gorki-Gorod resorts (the property of Sberbank) and Rosa Khutor. In December 2014, Sberbank reported that Krasnaya Polyana was placed at the disposal of the Krasnodar Center Omega company, which is one of the builders of Olympic facilities, in exchange for the construction of an Olympic media center. Having become the property of the region, Krasnaya Polyana is deprived of the right to conduct a gambling business, and, most likely, its area will be leased. As expected, Azov City is being liquidated in the interests of this tenant, which so far is not known to anyone.
Present state of affairs
As of May-June 2016, all casinos successfully continue to operate in the gambling zone. Today in Azov-City everyone can choose a game according to their character and temperament. This is American roulette, recognized as the queen of excitement, and Black Jack, and various types of poker, and numerous slot machines, as well as many intellectual games: chess, backgammon, checkers. In the gambling zone almost every day all kinds of promotions are held, raffle of valuable prizes, including solid jackpots and luxury cars.
The casino regularly hosts show programs in which pop stars, famous entertainers, and strip shows take part. Circus numbers and many surprises are offered to the public.
How to get there
The Azov-City gaming zone is located in the Krasnodar Territory at the border of two districts - Yeisk and Shcherbinovsky. The distance from Yeysk to Azov City is 70 km. It can be reached by free bus, it takes 40-50 minutes. You can also get your own car or book a transfer.
If you go to "Azov City" from another city, you should, not reaching about 30 km to Yeysk, in the village of Staroshcherbinovsky on the ring, turn right and then follow the signs.
Daily free buses to Azov City run according to the schedule:
- from Yeisk (TC "Meotida"): departure time - 19:30;
- from Rostov-on-Don (Rostov Glavny railway station): departure time - 19:00;
- from Krasnodar (TC "Red Square"): departure time on business days - 19:00; Saturday and Sunday - 18:00.
Where can I stay?
Those who wish can choose to stay a VIP-hotel located in the gambling complex. It is also proposed to book a private house, apartment, hotel room in the city of Yeysk through the agency "Yeysk-Leto.ru".
In perspective
The number of playing publics in Russia and neighboring countries is significant today, so the Azov City casinos do not lack customers. In this regard, we can assume that the functioning of the game complex will continue for some time.
However, it is known that Azov City will still be closed in the near future. Residents have already made liquidation rates.
The Ministry of Finance is exploring the possibility of simultaneously eliminating Azov City and starting a new zone in Sochi.