Thread: Russian Casino Ban Goes into Effect

The bloody Russian's hey. Maybe Australia's Senator Stephen Conroy knew something we didn't when he blamed "The Russian Mob" on some of the problems associated with Australia's ACMA "Blacklist"! (I'm only kidding... I think). Perhaps the Australian government has more in common with the Russian government and Chinese government in relation to internet censoring than one might have first imagined. The Australian and Chinese government's have not been able to fully censor the internet, not as of this writing anyway. The worldwide experience shows that it's generally easier to close down bricks and mortar gambling houses than it is to fully regulate and censor the Internet. A number of Russian casinos will ramp up poker at the venues, with poker being just about universally recognised as predominantly a game of skill. Sports betting also has elements of being a game of skill. Anyone to bet on the chances of Russia securing the Olympics in the near future? With all of these developments on the way with casino locations and facilities we're going to have to update our own World Casino Directory and World Gaming Directory. A gaming entrepreneur's work is never done comrade. PS: G'day from the Russian - Australian connection here at Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia
Greg Tingle
Media Man Australia
Casino News Media
Australian Casino News

Originally Posted by Nathan

Some are surprised that nation follows through with dramatic ban, which includes Internet gambling

From the CAP Newswire:

July 1, 2009 (CAP Newswire) -- Apparently many gamblers in Russia are a bit surprised that the Russian government has followed through with its threats to ban gambling in all but the most remote areas of that nation.

The idea began with ex-President Vladimir Putin in 2006 — the same year U.S. passed its own anti-gambling law, the UIGEA — as a measure to cut down on vice in the Russian nation. Since the ban was proposed when the country’s economy was much stronger due to oil exports selling at a higher price, many expected that the idea would be revoked in the years since, as the country’s economy has, like many other economies in the world, shrunk considerably.

No dice, however. The gambling ban is now being enforced, and about $2 billion in taxes each year is the expected loss.

And the ban includes not only land-based casinos but all Internet gambling, according to Gambling Online Magazine. Read more about that here.