Is Russian criminality coming to Belarus?

Belarus may become a gambling zone for the neighbouring countries.

Attempts to ban gambling business in Russia were made in 2007, but only from July 1, 2009, only pari-mutuel, betting offices and poker will be legal.

So, “Komsomolskaya Pravda” writes, the Russians may soon begin to open casinos in Belarus. A draft decree of Alyaksandr Lukashenka “On Some Measures to Improve Regulation of Gambling Business” is being worked out in Belarus.

“We must study the gambling laws and make them the best in the world,” Lukashenka ordered.

As a result, the biggest Russian casinos are moving to Minsk. They are ready to organize charter flights for their visitors.

“Movement in the gambling market was noticed last year,” said Aleh Karnyaenka, a leading auditor of the Ministry of Sports. “Our specialists forecasted that the Russians with their capital would come to Belarus. But they are not very active so far. There are rumours that the law on returning the gambling industry in Russia will be lobbied. The ban may remain in force only in big cities. But there’s no precise information, activity is permitted till July 1, and market participants wait. The biggest casinos – Shangri-la, for instance – are going to move to Minsk. They’ve found premises and now repair it. Shangri-la plans to organize charters for their Russian clients. They don’t count on Belarusians. Our people have nothing to spend in casino. But it’s purposeful to carry dwellers of Moscow on air.”

However, alongside with money Minsk may also meet Russian criminality. Districts near casinos are leading in criminal reports in the number of crimes. Drinking is very popular in casinos, and some people

Dice away so that they have nothing to lose.

Casinos are also a paradise for economic crimes. The Financial Militia of the State Control Committee solved 15 crimes on a total sum of some hundreds of dollars in 2008 in calm Belarus where only 30 casinos opened. What can be expected when there will be more casinos?