Casinos, gambling parlors still there, in different disguise - PGO.

MOSCOW, February 20 (Itar-Tass) -- Casinos and gambling parlors are
still there, although in a different disguise - bookmaker offices,
totaliszers, lotteries and what not, the Prosecutor-General's Office told
Itar-Tass this week. Their owners are quire resourceful in attempts to
sidestep the law.
"On July 1 Russia outlawed all gambling in its entire territory,
except for several specially designated territories. Prosecutors' offices
in Russia's regions have since been stepping up measures to enforce
legislation in this sphere. Over this period 746 criminal cases were
opened," a PGO official said.
Forty-one suspects in committing such crimes were detained and courts
remanded in custody 24 of them. All others were allowed to stay free on
the written promise not to leave town and the condition of good conduct.
Nine suspects were detained in the Central Federal District, seven in
the North-Western Federal District, 18 in the Southern Federal District,
five in the Siberian Federal District and two in the Far Eastern Federal
District. Those responsible were tried and sentenced to different
punishments.
"The analysis of the information collected has shown that in pursuit
of super-profits the founders of gambling outlets go ahead with attempts
to create such businesses outside the legal space," the Prosecutor-General'
s Office said. "Gambling is arranged for through the Internet, gambling
parlors are disguised as Internet cafes, and casinos and slot machine
halls are camouflaged to be taken for bookmaker offices and totalizes."

-0-str