Magic Crystal slot parlor gets nod for expansion

Russian slot machine parlor Magic Crystal, located in Russia's westernmost Kaliningrad Region, has been granted approval from authorities to expand its venue by 1,100 square meters, local media reports.

The venue was originally opened by Neverland in April 2016,  and soon was followed by the Sobranie casino run by another investor.

According to the construction permit issued by the authorities, Neverland is expected complete the works until 23 February 2020. The allocated land lot for a three-storey building is situated in close proximity to the Baltic Sea.

Magic Crystal reportedly has about 150 slot machines while Sobranie has 350 slot machines and 14 gambling tables.

According to the local finance authorities, the region's budget got about RUB 60 million (US$920,000) in taxes from the gambling business from January to September 2018.

In contrast, in the first quarter of 2019 - after a law increasing gambling taxes in the region came into force, the local authorities announced it has raked in approximately RUB30 million.

Since 1 January, local gambling operators are required to pay RUB250,000 a month for a gaming table and RUB15,000 per slot machine.

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