The full spectrum of life has been played out at Russian casinos over the last couple of days. Death was dealt during an armed robbery at a casino in the city of Mikhailovka, where the assailants escaped with 40,000 roubles, less than $1,500. In Moscow a casino hit an unexpected jackpot when a woman gave birth to a baby boy. Mother and son are said to be doing well, and one can only speculate what the baby’s name might be.

A recent survey of casino patrons in Moscow by the web portal Casino-Moscow is reported to show that only 43% actually go to win money. Nearly as many (38%) go for the entertainment provided by the casinos, a trend seen in Las Vegas and aspired to in leisure destination projects in places such as Singapore and Great Britain, and 10% responded that they go to watch a concert of a favourite performer. It would seem that entertainment is a high priority for casino-goers, confirmed by figures for daily attendance. Friday’s and Saturdays are the only busy times, when people go after the working week.

More than half the 5,000 people consulted in the poll thought that the ambience of a casino was its most important aspect, reflected in preferences for ‘cosiness,’ themed casinos, and relaxed atmosphere. Less important were the location of a casino or the restaurant menu. In Moscow most frequent visitors to casinos go to play roulette as blackjack, immensely popular in the United States, only attracts around 16%.

Such figures should give a boost to the proponents of casino leisure complexes in other countries, if patterns of play for Moscow residents are fairly typical. Future projects will have to give plenty of thought both to casino décor and to their performer bookings, if they want to win in the casino market stakes. (E-02.14.05)

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