Want to play Russian Roulette?

Not the kind with the single bullet in the chamber of a pistol, but the far less stressful casino table game.

A few days ago Russia saw the doors open to its first casino situated in one of its new designated ‘gambling zones’.   The zones, which are all pretty much in the middle of nowhere, included Azov City, and this is where Oracle Casino opened its doors to around 100 gamblers amid very little fanfare last week.

Back in 2006 Vladimir Putin took a look around Moscow and decided there were just way too many casinos.  And he was probably right.  Since the collapse of the Soviet Communist back in 1991, casinos have popped up like bunnies in a horny rabbit’s hutch.

Putin’s solution was a blanket ban, effective July 1 2009, on all casinos across Russia, with the exception of those constructed in a few designated gambling zones…all of which were a long, long way away from anywhere of note.

When the July 1 deadline finally rolled around, most thought it wouldn’t be enforced, particularly with the global financial crisis in full swing.  But authorities stuck to their guns and all casinos were forced to close their doors – putting an estimated 300,000 casino workers out on the streets, and driving countless Russian gamblers to online casinos.

Now Russians can once again play baccarat, roulette, blackjack etc to their hearts content without having to go online.  Mind you, they will most likely need to travel a long way.