Russians Restrict Gambling

Moscow has 550 casinos and gaming halls? (Do they have state lotteries?) So, should Americans roll back gambling venues to 1960 levels, would that be a Puritanical regression or progress?

Ecumenical News International
Orthodox church welcomes Russian gambling ban

By Jonathan Luxmoore
Warsaw, 7 July (ENI)--The Russian Orthodox Church has welcomed a nationwide shut down of casinos and other gambling houses under a new law, which will restrict gaming to four remote investment-starved regions of the world's biggest country.

"Gambling games imposed on every street corner deprived people of freedom, and made them listen to deceitful promises," said the Rev. Vsevolod Chaplin, the head of the Church and Society Department of the Russian Orthodox Church.

"Today, it has finally become clear that it has come to an end. It shows again we are a rather powerful society capable of coping with those who made money through others' naivety, and through numerous human tragedies," the church official commented.

Chaplin was speaking as the new law, which has closed poker tables, roulette wheels and slot machines around the country, took effect on 1 July.

In an interview with the Russian Interfax news agency on 30 June, Chaplin said casinos and gambling halls had "promised easy money but concealed disgusting reality". He believed Russians had tired of the "numerous human tragedies caused by the passion for games".

"State leaders and various governmental agencies have clearly demonstrated their will, and it coincided with the will of the overwhelming majority," Archpriest Chaplin told Interfax. "We are very glad we - authorities, society, scientists, pedagogues, journalists, clergy and law enforcement agencies - have won this victory together."

The new law is expected to result in around 300 000 job losses in the Russian gambling industry. From now on, gambling in Russia is to be restricted to centres still to be built in the four development zones of southern Krasnodar, the Baltic enclave of Kaliningrad, eastern Siberia's Altai region and Russia's Far East.

Former Russian President Vladimir Putin first proposed a gambling ban in 2006 after he cited evidence from Russia's interior ministry that Georgian organized crime was linked to gaming operations. Reports indicate that profits from such crime mushroomed after the 1991 collapse of Soviet rule, and at the time of the passing of the new bill were estimated to be worth US$7 billion each year.

Russian police took action on 1 July to secure many of Moscow's 550 casinos and gaming halls, including those in the capital's Novy Arbat district.

In his interview, Chaplin said Orthodox clergy had frequently highlighted the "harm inflicted by gambling," and sought to help "relatives and friends of gamblers who turned to the church". He noted that Russians needed reminding that, "There are much more interesting and worthy things in life than wasting time on gambling games, drinking alcohol, abusing drugs or sinking in the world of virtual entertainment."

"I know from my priestly experience that many people have spent their last cent on gambling games. This passion has led many people to life tragedies, and some people have even committed suicide when they found themselves in debt," said Chaplin. [Reprinted with permission]