Tim Alper is a journalist who covers betting news and regulation for CasinoBeats. He joined the CasinoBeats team in May 2025. He reports on breaking news and developments in the world of betting, casinos, and...
Read Full BioA top Russian gambling association has called on lawmakers to scrap plans for a new state-approved casino in Altai in favor of a Moscow-based alternative.
The Russian media outlet RTVI reported that the comments came from Igor Ballo, the President of the Association of Gambling Industry Professionals (ADIB).
Earlier this month, the Ministry of Finance published a bill proposing the creation of a new special gambling zone in the Altai Republic, in central South Russia.
The republic is already home to the Siberian Coin gambling zone, one of only four gambling zones in the nation.
The State Duma has also approved the launch of the Primorye gambling zone in the Russian Far Eastern Primorsky Krai region.
Moscow Casino Approval ‘Makes Sense,’ Says Association
Gambling zones also operate in Yantarnaya in Kaliningrad and Krasnaya Polyana, near the resort city of Sochi.
At present, only one casino (the Altai Palace) operates in the Siberian Coin zone. But the proposal would see lawmakers green-light a new zone in Altai.
The ministry says that this plan would help develop the economy in Altai, increase tourist numbers, and create new jobs for residents.
But Ballo hit out at the plan, saying it seemed “more like a PR stunt than a viable proposal.” He explained: “I don’t understand the logic of this plan. I think it is just some kind of public relations stunt. […] If the government wants to do it, let them do it. But it’s not a very promising zone.”
Ballo also said that Russia’s gambling zones have failed to “prove their worth.” Instead, he said, the zones are “performing very poorly.”
He added: “Apart from Sochi and perhaps Primorye, all the others are dead.” The ADIB chief also opined that the ministry’s plans “will not work.”
The expert added that building a casino zone in the Moscow Oblast would be a more sensible plan.
He explained: “Who is going to gamble in Altai? Who will go there? Not Chinese tourists, as they have Primorye. Who is this for? The ministry would be better off creating a zone in the Moscow region, for Moscow.”
Ballo said that such a casino would be “feasible” and a “viable option” because “Moscow has a lot of money, and a huge number of tourists.”
Chinese Tourists to Provide Russian Gambling Zone Boost?
The association chief said that he “understands” the ministry’s plans to boost development in Altai.
He concluded: “They want to turn this place into a tourist district, like Sochi. It will mainly revolve around music performances and concerts. But if that is the case, then why is it being framed as a gambling zone? I don’t understand this.”
The ADIB is Russia’s first public organization of gambling businesses. Its members include casino operators, slot machine firms, and other betting-related companies.
Despite Ballo’s skepticism, Siberian Coin’s revenue grew by 17% year-on-year in the Financial Year 2024.
The Altai Palace also posted revenue growth of over 58% in FY2023, with total revenues hitting the $13.3 million mark last year.
However, the prospects for Primorye look more promising still. Last month, a Chinese investor inked a $194 million deal to build a new casino complex in the zone.
And as Beijing-Moscow relations continue to warm, the number of Chinese tourists arriving in Russia is growing fast.
The two countries now allow tourists to make visa-free visits. And data from the Association of Tour Operators of Russia shows that the number of Chinese tourists traveling to Russia via tour operators grew 4.2 times compared to 2023 figures.
Russian immigration figures show that in the first quarter of 2025, the country saw a 7.9% year-on-year increase in arrivals, including almost 107,000 Chinese tourists.
