Russia Designates Sixth Official Gambling Zone in Altai Republic

(AsiaGameHub) –   Russia has approved a new casino zone in the Altai Republic, with officials tying the plan to tourism, jobs, and additional tax revenue.

Good to Know

• The new Altai Republic gambling zone became official after Vladimir Putin signed the law.
• Authorities expect more than 1,000 jobs and over $4 million in yearly tax revenue.
• Russia is also discussing legal online casinos with a proposed 30% tax on operator profits.

Russia Adds Another Casino Zone As Budget Pressure Grows

Russia has added the Altai Republic to its list of approved gambling territories following President Vladimir Putin’s signing of the law, published on May 2.

The casino zone is expected to be established near Manzherok, at the Sberbank-owned ski resort in the mountains. Officials aim for the project to support tourism, hotels, restaurants, skiing, and outdoor travel rather than function solely as a standalone casino destination.

The location also provides a regional economic benefit. The Altai Republic remains one of Russia’s poorest regions, with 13.8% of residents living below the subsistence level. Authorities anticipate that the venue will generate more than 1,000 jobs upon completion.

Budgetary pressures further underscore the significance of the move. Russia recorded a $74 billion federal budget deficit, while regional budgets collectively faced a $20 billion shortfall. In this context, the Ministry of Finance had already identified gambling expansion as a potential source of revenue.

The new site would become the sixth official gambling zone in Russia and the second within the broader Altai region. Existing zones include Crimea, Sochi, Krasnodar, Primorye, and Kaliningrad. Russia banned casino gambling outside designated zones in 2009 due to concerns about addiction, organized crime, and social harm in major urban areas.

Altai already has prior experience within this system. Russia first approved an official gambling zone in the region in 2007, though full operations did not commence until 2014, following years of slow development.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov has proposed broader reforms for online gambling. The plan would lift the iGaming ban, establish a Unified Betting Accounting Center, license domestic online casino operators, and impose a 30% tax on their profits.

Officials estimate the online casino initiative could yield approximately $1.3 billion annually, or nearly 100 billion rubles. Player winnings would not be included in the taxable income calculation.

Since 2009, Russia has prohibited online casinos; however, offshore operators continue to reach players via mirror websites and duplicate servers. This enforcement challenge now coexists with the new Altai casino project as Russia considers how much legal gambling revenue it seeks to capture.