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%.

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

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