Azov-City, the First Legal Gambling Zone in Russia

Azov-City, the first gambling zone in Russia

N.B. Since January 1, 2019, no casinos work in Azov City. The gambling zone was closed.

According to the law on state regulation of the organization and conduct of gambling and Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation adopted at the end of 2006, the Russian federal government created four gambling zones. As you know, all gambling-type institutions should be located only in their territory.

The first step was Azov City. Initially, it was located on two thousand hectares on the border of the Rostov area (Azov region) and Krasnodar (Shcherbinovsky area). After some time, the part of the zone located in the Rostov region was eliminated.

Initial Plans for Azov City

Infrastructure in the assigned territory was practically absent; there were no paved roads (the nearest town, Yeisk, is within fifty kilometers), communications, or buildings. Everything had to be created from scratch.

The Russian government promised to allocate eighteen billion rubles from 2008 to 2012 for the development of a tourist and recreational zone, Primorskaya, which includes Azov City. This money was to be used to construct water supply and pipelines, roads, a small airfield, power lines, a sea marina, and other facilities.

At the first auction, fifteen sites were available for rent, a total area of fifty acres. Half a billion rubles were allocated from the regional budget of the Krasnoyarsk Territory for infrastructure development.

To protect the interests of gambling operators, the nonprofit organization Association for the Development of Azov City was created. It connects the Rostov and Krasnodar regions.

Azov City History

Here are some milestones in the history of the first Russian gambling zone. 

  • Construction of the first casino was launched in late 2008.
  • In January 2010, the Oracle Casino opened its doors to customers, and in October, the Shambala Casino followed suit.
  • However, in 2010, the government of the Krasnodar Region decided to relocate the zone to Anapa, and the Association for the Development of a Gambling Zone, Azov City, supported this idea.
  • A little later, the Russian State Duma amended the law on gambling, excluding the Rostov region from the list of areas where gambling zones are permitted.
  • In early 2011, the Russian government eliminated a part of Rostov Azov City by its decision. After that, conflicts between tenants and landowners of existing casinos and the regional authorities began.
  • In the spring of 2012, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin ordered the cancellation of the elimination of Azov City and even announced its expansion. The investors reacted immediately, and many of them started the construction of new facilities.
  • On December 31, 2018, the gambling zone was liquidated.

Now, it does not work.

Casino Deposit methods Withdrawal methods Accepted currencies
Bitcoin
WebMoney
VISA
+11
WebMoney
VISA
ЮMoney (Yandex-Деньги)
+10
$, €, ₽, C$, ¥, kr
Bitcoin
VISA
Bank Transfer
+7
VISA
Bank Transfer
Skrill
+6
$, €, ₽, ₴
Bitcoin
VISA
Skrill
+4
VISA
Skrill
Neteller
+3
$, €, ₽, KZT
Bitcoin
VISA
Bank Transfer
+6
VISA
Bank Transfer
Skrill
+6
$, €, ₽, KZT, C$, kr, zł, ₴
Bitcoin
WebMoney
VISA
+9
WebMoney
VISA
Bank Transfer
+8
$, €, ₽
Bitcoin
WebMoney
VISA
+9
WebMoney
VISA
ЮMoney (Yandex-Деньги)
+7
$, €, ₽
Bitcoin
VISA
ЮMoney (Yandex-Деньги)
+11
VISA
ЮMoney (Yandex-Деньги)
Bank Transfer
+7
$, €, ₽, KZT, kr, zł
Bitcoin
VISA
Bank Transfer
+6
VISA
Bank Transfer
Skrill
+5
$, €, ₽
Bitcoin
VISA
Skrill
+1
VISA
Skrill
MasterCard
+1
$, €, ₽, KZT, kr, zł, ₴, YTL
Bitcoin
WebMoney
VISA
+6
WebMoney
VISA
ЮMoney (Yandex-Деньги)
+7
$, €, ₽, ₴

Casinos in Azov-City

Azov City had two casinos:

  1. Oracle,
  2. Shambhala.

Casinos operated in the atmosphere of healthy competition and offered the most popular casino games in the region:

  • various types of poker,
  • blackjack,
  • roulette,
  • slot machines, and so on.

The casinos periodically held poker tournaments. The customers also participated in exciting promotions. There were bars and restaurants, and from time to time, pop stars performed in the casinos.

Azov City Now

Many players and gambling experts predicted an excellent future for Azov City, but they proved to be wrong. The gambling zone was closed.

Frequently asked Questions

🎲 What was the Azov City gambling zone and where was it located?

The Azov City gambling zone was one of Russia's initially designated legal gambling areas. It was situated in the Krasnodar region, specifically in the Shcherbinovsky district, near the Sea of Azov and close to the major port city of Rostov-on-Don. It aimed to become a significant entertainment complex, drawing visitors with its casinos and other leisure facilities.

🎰 When was Azov City established and when did it cease operations?

Azov City was established as Russia's first official gambling zone in 2010, following a 2006 law that outlawed gambling across most of the country and restricted it to specific, remote zones. However, its operations were ordered to cease, and it was officially liquidated as a gambling zone by December 31, 2018.

❔ Why was the Azov City gambling zone closed down?

The primary reason for the closure of Azov City was a change in Russian legislation. A federal law permits only one gambling zone within a single region. When Sochi, also in the Krasnodar region, was designated as a new gambling zone after the 2014 Winter Olympics, Azov City, being in the same region, had to be shut down. The government aimed to consolidate gambling operations in the more developed and internationally recognized Sochi, utilizing its existing infrastructure and boosting its tourism industry, especially during the off-season.

🤔 Were there any plans for the future development of Azov City before its closure?

Prior to the decision to close it, Azov City had ambitious development plans. Investors had poured millions of rubles into the zone, with proposals for new hotels, additional casinos, and other entertainment amenities like aquaparks. There were projections that the complex could eventually attract millions of tourists annually. However, these plans were ultimately superseded by the government's decision to favor Sochi as the sole gambling hub in the Krasnodar region.

💸 What happened to the casinos and investors in Azov City after the closure decision?

The casinos operating in Azov City, such as Oracul, Shambala, and Nirvana, were forced to cease their operations by the specified deadline. Investors who had put significant capital into developing these facilities faced substantial losses. While there were discussions and legal challenges regarding compensation for these investors, Russian law generally did not provide for reimbursement in the event of a special gambling zone being wound up. Many operators ultimately had to accept their investments as business risks, with some turning their focus to other designated gambling zones in Russia, like those near Vladivostok.

Denis Anipchenko
Denis Anipchenko
Editor-in-chief and online gambling expert

Denis is a true professional with many years of experience in the gambling industry. His career started back in the late nineties when he worked as a croupier, pit boss, manager and casino manager. This unique experience allowed him to deeply understand the world of gambling from the inside. Since the late noughties Denis has dedicated himself to writing articles and analyses about gambling, and since the early tens he has become a key figure in the Casinoz team. Here he not only writes and edits content, but also creates reviews, shares his expertise and helps readers understand the intricacies of gambling. Denis combines practical experience and in-depth knowledge, making him one of the most respected experts in the industry. His writings are always up-to-date, proven and useful information for anyone interested in the casino world.

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Facts checked Alex Vasilev Scientific editor and fact checker
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