Half of Russia's gambling zones are unprofitable
A rather sensational statement was made recently by experts. According to them, two out of four Russian gambling zones are unprofitable. This information was voiced against the backdrop of the construction of a fifth one in Crimea, which already has a name – “Golden Coast”. The main reason for such a deplorable state of affairs, according to analysts, is anchor investors.
Active construction of a gambling zone is underway on the Crimean peninsula. It is expected to operate around the clock, so interested companies expect a serious influx of tourists. According to preliminary estimates, the profit will be at least 25 billion rubles a year. Many experts disagree with this, stating that expectations are greatly inflated. Among them is Dmitry Slobodkin, who stood at the origins of the domestic gambling business. He agrees that today only two gambling zones are profitable - in Sochi and in the Far East.
D. Slobodkin claims that low profitability is directly related to the anchor investor, who, by law, must be in each gambling cluster. Accordingly, a license to provide services is issued exclusively to such companies. As a result, the management company promotes only its own business. Other investors, who could make a serious contribution to the development of the gambling business if they had the opportunity to own property, cannot do so. In fact, it turns out that there is only one owner working in the gambling zone, all the others can only invest.
The expert claims that the new gambling zone in Crimea may also be unprofitable, as it will be seasonal. Local residents do not have enough money to visit casinos regularly. As for tourists visiting the peninsula, it is not a fact that they will spend serious money on gambling. First of all, the money is intended for a seaside vacation, and not for gambling. Those who really want to play big will rather go to Krasnaya Polyana (Sochi), and not to Crimea. D. Slobodkin said that the most reasonable decision would be to abandon gambling zones altogether and regulate this market legislatively. Let us recall that previously the state received 380 billion rubles a year in taxes from the gambling industry of the Russian Federation. Today, this amount has decreased to 1.5 billion rubles.
