The Russian Association of Entertainment and Event Tourism Industry Operators (AIRIS) has reported a 4% drop in visits year-on-year to 715,968 during the summer season for gambling zones. The data covers the period from 1 June to 31 August.
Summer 2026 attendance dynamics varied by region. In Sochi's Krasnaya Polyana gambling zone, visitor numbers declined by 6.7% to 225,900. In the Altai region, the Siberian Coin recorded a 2.1% decline to 41,300 visitors.
Primorye recorded growth, with combined guest flow across its two operators reaching 246,025 visitors. Tigre de Cristal welcomed 100,861 guests, while the Shambala entertainment complex attracted 145,164, up 24%. Overall regional guest flow increased by approximately 12%.
In the Kaliningrad region, gambling establishments welcomed a combined 202,720 guests. Sobranie Casino accounted for 125,165 visitors, while Shambala welcomed 77,555. Combined attendance across the two venues decreased by 19%.
AIRIS Executive Director Dmitry Anfinogenov commented: "This year's summer holiday season has been challenging for the entire hospitality industry. Various challenges, primarily logistical, have inevitably impacted the performance of popular tourist destinations.
"At the same time, we see that gaming zones continue to maintain a steady flow of guests and remain magnets for vacationers. The development of event, gastronomic and other non-gaming formats helps these areas maintain their appeal and create additional guest experiences."
The association noted that the event calendar was packed across the zones this summer season. Krasnaya Polyana hosted concerts, sporting events and culinary projects. Meanwhile, Yantarnaya held celebrations for the 80th anniversary of the Kaliningrad Region, as well as concerts. In Altai, a key event was the annual open-air music festival.
Currently, four outlined legal gambling zones operate in Russia. A fifth zone is under construction in Crimea. The Federal Government has approved the creation of a sixth zone in Altai, and President Putin has signed it.
AIRIS is filming a documentary examining Russia’s modern gambling zones and their role in regional tourism and economic development
