10:20, 1 November 2008

Crisis not to affect "Azov-City" gambling zone, authorities assure

None of the companies, who signed investment agreements and land leasing contracts in the "Azov-City" gambling zone, has cancelled them because of financial crisis. This was stated by Vladimir Bartenyev, Minister of Economy, Trade and Foreign Economic Relations of the Rostov Region.

"No changes have occurred," he has assured. "We go on working under taken obligations. In November, we commission the first object for feeding electricity to the territory of the gambling zone."

The "Azov-City" gambling zone will cover 2000 hectares of the Azov Sea coast and belong to the Azov District of the Rostov Region and Scherbinka District of the Krasnodar Territory. By July 1, 2009, the first gambling entities should start operating in the gambling zones created in Russia, while all the operators of gambling business outside such zones should be stopped.

More interest is currently exhibited to "Azov-City" by foreign companies (in particular, from Austria), than by local gambling operators.

Author: Elena Olenina, CK correspondent