MOSCOW, July 2, 2009. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data how many Russians are keen on gambling, and how much time they spend on that.

Six percent of Russians are keen on gambling: cards and slot-machines – 2% for each (basically men – 4% for each), casinos and other gambling activities – 1% for each; horse racing is not popular among Russians. Meanwhile, 94% of respondents are not fond of gambling at all – most of them are women (98% against 90% of men). Slot-machines are most popular among residents of the Urals and respondents aged 18-24 (6% for each). Casinos are often visited by respondents with very high level of income (14%). Those who do not participate in gaming activities are mostly elderly citizens (98%), and respondents residing in the Central and Urals regions (96-97%).

Every third Russian who gambles does it not more than once or twice per month (31%). Nineteen percent of Russians gambles several times per week, and 2% - every day. Other 19% gamble once every two or three months, 9% - once every half a year, 4% - once a year, and 7% - even rarer.

Gambling activity is different according to different types of settlements. Whereas the share of Russians residing in rural area and gambling every day is 10%, the share of such respondents residing in bigger cities fluctuates within less than 1%. Rural area residents also often report that they gamble every week (35% against 18% of Muscovites and St. Petersburgians). On the contrary, metropolitan and big cities residents often say that they gamble not more than once or twice per month (40-41%), Muscovites and St. Petersburgians do that not more than once every two or three months (29%), as for other big cities residents – they play once every half a year (20%). And finally, Russians residing in middle-sized cities more often than others report that they gamble less than once a year (20%).

Gambling frequency is also dependent on financial self-assessment.  Respondents with high level of income usually gamble every day or every week (8% and 25% respectively). Those with average financial self-assessment more often than others report that they gamble two or three times per month (36%). And finally, the gambling frequency of those with low level of income is less than once per year (14%).

Majority of Russians is aware of the new decree designing to relocate gambling facilities in four special gambling zones away from cities and rural area (77%): 44% are well informed about it, 33% heard something about it. Those who are most informed are respondents who are keen on gambling (65%). Every fifth (20 %) heard first about this decree:  most of them are respondents who do not gamble (21%).

Russians think that accommodating the gaming establishments from cities and settlements to four remote regions will do more good than harm (70% against 14%), and the share of such respondents has increased since 2006 (in 2006 – 65% and 18% respectively). The first point of view is mostly shared by those who do not gamble (71% against 45% of those who gamble). Those who support the later position are mainly respondents who like to gamble (34% against 12% of those who do not like gambling).

Gambling refusal is the most common way to tackle the current situation. The main behavioral strategy of those who like to gamble in terms of new legislation is gambling refusal (every third Russian reports so - 33%); most of them are big cities residents (56%); 28% are undecided. The rest of respondents have already found an alternative way out: 9% are planning on playing Internet-casinos (most of them are residents of big and middle-sized cities – 14% for each), 8% - playing lotteries and other gaming activities (most of them are rural area residents – 14%); 5% are planning to visit poker clubs; 3% are going to visit foreign gambling facilities (most of them are metropolitan residents - 19% and 13% respectively). Only 1% of Russians are planning to visit gambling establishments located in Russia; the same share of Russians are ready to visit underground gambling facilities.  

 Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or www.wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!