Odds on success for Altai gamblers heaven

Russian gamblers won't have to suffer cold turkey for much longer if the Government of the Altai region in Siberia have their way.

The administration is putting out to tender the construction of a huge casino complex. Mikhail Shetinin, the Altai Vice Governor says four sites are being offered as part of the region's entertainment complex known as Siberian Coin.“I hope new residents of the unique complex will be known this month, and expect them to start development next year. The process has kicked off. We see that everyone realizes the importance of the development and its direction” The cost of the project is estimated at 30 billion roubles. 15 Casinos, 10 huge entertainment centers and 30 hotels will be ready to accommodate and entertain over three thousand guests. The project also involves construction of the complete infrastructure including roads, car parks, restaurants and bars. Shetinin says the new deadline for construction has been set after pioneer investor ALTI returned to the project. “We expect the complex to be built by 2013. Alti is currently the only company working on the project in the area of the future entertainment complex. They have faced several obstacles at the beginning, mainly, due to the complexity of the territory and construction”It's two years since a law came into force banishing casinos to four specific regions within Russia  – Primorye, Altai, Kaliningrad, and the border of the Krasnodar/Rostov region. Meanwhile, a 150 million roubles investment in Azov-City in the Rostov region is now being demolished after the Government decided to withdraw special gambling status from the area.

Meanwhile, a 150 million roubles investment in Azov-City in the Rostov region is now being demolished after the Government decided to withdraw special gambling status from the area.