A nationwide ban on gambling was just enacted!
Russia has closed all casinos overnight, leaving approximately a third of a million people unemployed!
“I feel terrible. We just let 1,000 people go,” said Yuri Boyev, general director at Metelitsa, a high end casino frequented by billionaires the home of gas giant Gazpro’s lavish Christmas parties.
Prime minister Vladimir Putin came up with the idea during his presidency in 2006 after several gaming operations in Moscow were linked to Georgian organized crime.
The government plans to restrict gambling to Las Vegas-style gaming zones in four rarely visited regions that need major investments.
The development replacement zones require funds of up to $40 billion and have not been built.
“The zones have no roads, water or electricity. We fulfilled the law by shutting, the government did not fulfill it as the zones are not ready yet,” said Boyev.
In order to compensate for jobs lost, the Kremlin guaranteed work in restaurants and shopping centers that are to replace casinos, but the gambling industry has its doubts.
The unemployment rate in Russia it at an eight-year high!!!!!
Even though casinos knew the shutdown date for at least a year, few thought the government would go through with it, as gaming brings in up to $7 billion and $1 billion in taxes.
The people of Russia will suffer more from the lack of funds than organized crime!
Citizens paying the price for political power struggles!
Sad.