Casino as a Resort: Russian Gaming Zones Attracted 95.5 Thousand Visitors During New Year Holidays

© изображение сгенерировано ИИ

During the New Year holidays, Russian gambling zones recorded a noticeable increase in visitors. From December 31, 2025 to January 11, 2026, their venues were visited by 95,566 people, according to data provided by the Association of Entertainment and Event Tourism Operators (AIRIS). The total attendance of the three popular zones increased by almost 23% compared to the previous year.

The leader in terms of the number of guests was traditionally the "Krasnaya Polyana" gambling zone in Sochi. During the holidays, it was visited by 43,235 people. AIRIS notes that the indicator remained at the level of the previous year, showing only a slight fluctuation within 3%.

The most significant growth was shown by "Sibirskaya Moneta" in the Altai region. During the New Year holidays, it was visited by 37,770 guests - about 23% more than a year earlier, when the tourist flow was 30,583 people. A significant jump was also recorded in the "Yantarnaya" gambling zone in the Kaliningrad region: the Sobranie casino increased attendance by more than one and a half times - from 9,509 to 14,561 visitors.

AIRIS explains the increased interest in gambling zones by a shift in focus from gambling to comprehensive leisure formats. This refers to the expansion of non-gambling offers - concert programs, shows, festivals, and special holiday events. According to the association, it is the event and tourist component that becomes the key factor in attracting the audience.

Executive Director of AIRIS Dmitry Anfingenov notes that gambling zones are increasingly perceived by guests as full-fledged resorts.

In Russia, gambling has been banned since 2009, except for specially designated areas. Currently, there are five gambling zones in the country: "Yantarnaya" in the Kaliningrad region, "Sibirskaya Moneta" in the Altai region, "Primorye" in the Primorsky region, "Krasnaya Polyana" in the Krasnodar region, and a zone in Crimea, which has not yet been put into operation. At the end of last year, the government submitted a bill to the State Duma on the creation of a sixth gambling zone. It will appear in the Republic of Altai.