Shambala receives green light for Primorye

Friday 13th of September 2019

Shambala JSC, the former operator of the Shambala Casino in the now-closed Azov City gambling zone, has received permission to conduct gambling activities in the Primorye zone.

According to Russian gambling publication Bookmakers' Rating, the permit was signed on 6 September, allowing Shambala to start carrying out gambling activities from 1 December 2019.

The Shambala casino was opened in Azov City in western Russia in October 2010. Three years later the company opened another casino, Nirvana. Both of them were closed in 2018 following a decision to open a rivaling gambling zone in Sochi.

Shambala attempted to contest the ruling, demanding RUB 3.3 billion (US$51 million dollars) from the Russian government, but it was dismissed.

In 2017 Shambala presented a project of a gambling facility in Primorye, developed by international architectural firm AEDAS, which is behind such gambling venues as The Venetian casino in Macau.

The entertainment complex is expected to include a casino and a 5-star hotel with no less than 250 rooms. The construction is expected to be carried in two stages, the first of which involves building a casino within the two-year period, which the second stage, - the hotel and entertainment facilities. The overall investment into it is put at RUB 10 billion.

Earlier this year, the head of the Primorye Territory tourism department said that the facility is expected to be placed in operation in the beginning of 2020.

In a separate development, the authorities of Altai Territory have supported the construction of an entertainment complex with a casino in the Siberian Coin gambling zone. Investments in the project will amount to RUB 3.5 billion, with construction expected to start in 2020.

Project investors Aleksey Sakvarelidze and Anton Bykov said that at the first stage, a slot hall for 300 slot machines and 10 gaming tables will be built.

In 2021-2023, the construction of a 150-room hotel will begin under the franchise of one of the international brands. The implementation of this phase will take two years.

At the third phase, a casino with an area of 5,000 sq m will be built, as well as recreation areas.

Aleksey Sakvarelidze owns 30 percent in Alti LLC, which is implementing a project of a hotel and entertainment complex, including Altai Palace casino, opened in 2014 in Siberian Coin. Altai Palace is currently the only casino operating in the zone.