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Russia’s slot machines and gambling problems may be
under control by 2009 if President Vladimir Putin gets his latest passed
through. The previous incarnations of this bill had much more strict and
harsh legislation against the casinos operating slot machines and the
smaller slots parlors. The current bill plans to regulate the slot machines
and get a handle on the addiction and crime associated with the slots
through the use of gambling zones.
Putin proposes that all of the gambling and slot machines be moved to these
four zones by 2009. For the smaller slot machines and gaming parlors, they
will have to shut down by this coming July, but for the others, they will
have two solid years to organize the move. For Putin, this plan is an
essential part of bringing order and less crime to some of Russia’s major
cities. The gambling zones will all be located outside of the major
cities—and in some cases very far away from the extremely populated areas.
Plans right now look like the zones will be as follows: one in Siberia, one
in the Far East, and two in European Russia.
For the smaller slots parlors though, they look like they are getting the
short end of the stick here. According to Putin’s bill, and slots parlor
with less than 10 tables, 50 slot machines and $23 million in assets will
have to shut down by July.
And it looks as though Putin’s bill may pass this time around because it is
more lenient, and because many politicians are recognizing the huge societal
ills the slot machines and gambling are bringing to Russia.
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