Russia’s Far East Mini Las Vegas Hopes to Attract More Chinese Gamblers

Though Putin is predominantly anti-gambling when it comes to his own people, he s allowed the creation of several specially designated gambling zones where Russians can place bets. The country has four precincts where casinos can be built, and all are near foreign borders or in isolated areas.

Russian citizens can gamble at Tigre so long as they register with a passport and declare the money they intend to play with.   

Missed Opportunity

Now seems to be the perfect time to market towards the international Asian demographic. China continues to clampdown on VIP junket operators moving wealthy mainland residents to Macau, and from opening its integrated casino resorts.

But with just Tigre open, the Far East city is a far cry from Macau or Las Vegas, both in terms of distance and gambling attractiveness.

Speaking with The New York Times, Chinese businessman Li Yunhui said the city lacks the amenities and services of Macau, but at least it is close, and the air is clean.

It feels like a developing country here, Yunhui explained. This is how China was decades ago. What you can do in a day in China takes weeks here.

Construction setbacks due to government red tape has left the entertainment zone with a single casino resort. Putin s push to make Vladivostok into a tourism epicenter began nearly a decade ago.