Bingo and Gambling has been popular in Russia for the past several years. According to the World Bingo & Casino Directory there are 169 casinos in the Russian Federation located in thirty different cities. More than fifty are located in Moscow alone.  Russia seems to be on the path to eliminating gambling slot machine game and bingo in most areas, if President Putin has his way.  They have new laws which become effective in July 2007 that limits gambling to those eighteen years of age and older.  They also plan to close small slot machine halls and casinos.  Gambling is to be restricted to certain areas of the country, called gambling zones.  There will be four of them.  Two of the zones will be in European Russia, one will be in Siberia, and the last one will be in the Far East.  The first zone will be formed in July of 1007.  The final zone is scheduled for July 1, 2009.  The casinos will have federal licenses in the zones for a five year period. This will be the only places in Russia where gambling, slot games are legal.  Gambling and slot games are big business in Russia, worth approximately $5 billion a year.  Under the proposed plans, the casinos will not be where the players are. They will have to travel to reach the gambling zones.

These proposals have received tentative approval.  Nothing is yet finalized.  They come up for passage. A second reading of the bill will be later this year.  Major changes are expected before its final passage.