Bettie: Russia sick of casinos?

[Bettie]

From today's Las Vegas Review Journal, in the gossip column:

Russia's gaming explosion is cooling off.

"It was too much. Moscow was covered by casinos on every corner. People are sick of it," Russian travel writer Vladimir Paperny said Saturday while touring the Aladdin for his first story on Sin City.

When Russia started experimenting with a free-market economy after the collapse of the Soviet Union, "the first business that sprouted was gambling," said Paperny, a writer for Afisha, the Russian word for billboard or poster.

"As you have probably heard, the mayor of Moscow is very corrupt and has some very close ties with the business. He profits from the business," said Paperny, a Los Angeles-based writer who just returned from Moscow last month.

Amid the deepening resentment toward the gaming boom, however, "some positive things" have occurred in the new Russia.

"When they wanted to rebuild a cathedral demolished under Stalin, the cathedral was built very quickly," said Paperny.

Any truth to the fact that people are "sick of" casinos on "every corner"?

Bettie

[Garry Baldy]

There are 60 casinos in Moscow plus two plan to open very soon. I don't know if it's possible to call it "at every corner" taking in account over 10 millions people of population. But the competition definitely goes tougher.

Luck.

Garry Baldy.

[Geoff Hall]

> There are 60 casinos in Moscow plus two plan
> to open very soon. I don't know if it's
> possible to call it "at every
> corner" taking in account over 10
> millions people of population. But the
> competition definitely goes tougher.

> Luck.

> Garry Baldy.

I was at the new Paris Casino, in Moscow, on the opening night about 2 weeks ago.

Based on the Paris Casino in Las Vegas, it seemed very impressive to me and could send a few tremors in casinos in that vicinity i.e. Bakarat, Pharoah.

I wonder if this is the start of the style of new developments in Moscow.

Incidentally, Paris do not offer ES but the tables were still full.

Best regards

Geoff

[Garry Baldy]

> I was at the new Paris Casino, in Moscow, on
> the opening night about 2 weeks ago.

I was there, too. After opening of Golden Royale casino (two casinos opened in one day). Found a couple of pros. Won a little.

> Based on the Paris Casino in Las Vegas, it
> seemed very impressive to me and could send
> a few tremors in casinos in that vicinity
> i.e. Bakarat, Pharoah.

Don't think so. It definitely will be popular but Pharaoh and Bakara already have quite impressive list of frequent customers. But once again - the competition goes tougher and tougher anyway.

> I wonder if this is the start of the style
> of new developments in Moscow.

It's not a start. This just continues. As far as I know three new places to open within months.

> Incidentally, Paris do not offer ES but the
> tables were still full.

ESA, no. But ES10, yes. And SEVEN decks in play.

Luck.

Garry Baldy.