Thread: Russia's Ban Likely to Help Internet Poker Market

The Russian gambling ban is one of the world's biggest news stories. Our web traffic regarding Russia and European gaming and casinos sure spiked. There's few Russian operators who are also eyeing off Australia. Here's at Bondi Beach, Sydney, we have a strong and friendly Russian - Australian community I'm pleased to report. Thankfully Senator Stephen Conroy's remarks earlier in the year re "Russian mob" didn't upset the locals too much, but I'm not sure what it did to our already challenged tourism sector. The online gaming sector in Australia is poised to work and collaborate more closely with our Russian and European neighbours. In response we are building up our Russian content and news on our version of World Casino Directory. Multi currency and multi language is the way to go without question. The world is one. Have a great weekend comrades.
Greg Tingle
Media Man Australia
Casino News Media
Australian Casino News

Originally Posted by Nathan

In Russia, poker is a sport, not a game of chance, so it remains legal as the nation institutes a huge gambling ban

From the CAP Newswire:

July 2, 2009 (CAP Newswire) -- Russia’s big news this week that it is following through with a dramatic shutdown of almost every casino in the nation has struck many observers as even more harsh than the United States’ recent Internet censorship difficulties. And, indeed, since Russia’s ban includes land-based casinos as well as online gambling centers, their ban is indeed much more wide-reaching.

But there is one important difference: In Russia, unlike the U.S., poker is classified as a sport, not a game of chance. Therefore, it’s not likely to be affected by the gambling ban (at least, not right away). Furthermore, given that Russian gamblers are suddenly without the option to go to their favorite casinos, it’s very likely that many will now flock to poker -- on land, and on the Internet.

So, expect to see a big boom in Russian online poker players. Affiliates looking for new markets to enter may want to start thinking seriously about offering Russian-language alternatives. This is a market that’s likely to grow at an incredible rate.

(Russia’s gambling ban doesn’t directly shut down all online casinos; there are loopholes that will likely be exploited. However, many online operators are likely to shut down rather than risk being penalized.)

For more from the Associated Press on the topic, please click here.