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IN BRIEF

Three-quarter of Russians assess the decision to create special gambling zones positively five years after the law was adopted.

MOSCOW, July 16, 2014. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data concerning how many Russians gamble; whether they know that all gambling facilities are now located in special zones; and how they assess this decision.

Most of Russians (94%) do not gamble. Those who gamble prefer playing cards (4%). Only 1% play slot machines; less than 1% of respondents opt for casinos and horse racing.

Eighty-three percent of Russians are well aware of the creation of special gambling zones far away from major cities and rural area. Since the law was adopted in 2009, the share of such persons has not changed much: five years ago 77% of Russians were aware of the law. Today 15% of Russians report that they do not know anything about that (vs 20% in 2009).

Five years after the creation of special gambling zones was announced, most of respondents still perceive this decision in a positive way. Seventy-three percent of respondents think that the decision was productive; they are manly residents of million cities (90%), supporters of a Just Russia party (81%), and women (77%). In 2006, the share of Russians who thought that the law would be effective was 65%; in 2009 – 70%. Currently, only one-tenth of respondents (11%) think that this law may have negative consequences; since 2006 this share has decreased by more than one-third (from 18%).

The VCIOM opinion poll was conducted on July 5-6, 2014. 1600 respondents were interviewed in 130 communities in 42 regions of Russia. Data are weighted by gender, age, education, working status and type of settlement.  The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.

 

Are you fond of gambling? If yes, what kind of gambling?

(closed-ended question, any number of answers)

 

2009

2014

I do not gamble

94

94

I play cards

2

4

I play slot machines

2

1

Horse race or sports betting  

<1

<1

Casino

1

<1

Other types of gambling

1

1

Don`t know

<1

1

Are you aware that according to the federal law all gambling zones and casinos must be located away from cities and rural area? Gambling is allowed within four special gambling zones – in the Kaliningrad region, in Altai, in the Primorye, near the Azov sea? (closed-ended question, one answer)

 

2009

2014

Yes, I am

44

46

I heard something about that

33

37

This is the first time I hear about that

20

15

Don`t know

2

2

In your opinion, did the idea to locate gambling facilities away from cities and towns in four special zones do more good or harm? (closed-ended question, one answer)

 

2006 *

2009 *

2014

More good

65

70

73

More harm

18

14

11

Don`t know

16

17

16

*the question referred to the upcoming creation of special gambling zones

 

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

 

 

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