As of July 1st 2009, Russian casinos have closed their doors. The casinos had been operating nationally, however new enforcement of a law passed by Putin in 2006 has limited casino activities to four areas of the country. Poker clubs can continue to operate undisturbed throughout the Russian territory.

According to gambling industry representatives, the closure of casinos will lead to 400,000 people unemployed, while the Kremlin claims that only 60,000 workers will be affected by the closure of casinos. According to industry analysts, the future number of unemployed citizens estimated by the Russian authorities is too low. Additional unemployment at any level is a bad blow, given the economic crisis that Russia is going through.

Despite the economic impact of this measure, according to a survey conducted by Profi Online Research, a leading Russian company specializing in surveys and market analysis, the majority of respondents (72%) have supported the casinos closure. Forty-six percent of those surveyed who said they used to attend casinos stated that they will continue to play online.