The Primorye gambling zone in the Russian Far East reported 856,500 visitors in 2025, marking a 12.2% year-on-year increase and its fifth consecutive year of growth, according to local authorities.
The zone located approximately 50km from Vladivostok, forms part of Russia’s strategy to develop integrated resort destinations aimed at both domestic and regional tourism.
Authorities said domestic visitation remains the primary driver of growth, supported by rising outbound travel costs and restrictions affecting segments of the Russian population. International visitors accounted for a smaller share, with approximately 6% arriving from Central Asia and further traffic from Asia Pacific markets including South Korea, China, Japan and Vietnam. Two casino resorts currently operate within the zone.
Tigre de Cristal, majority owned by Summit Ascent Holdings, has returned to profitability with a focus on the domestic mass market. Shambala Casino Resort is the second development, with expansion works ongoing and full capacity targeted by 2028.
The continued growth in visitation underlines the resilience of Russia’s regional casino clusters, particularly as operators pivot towards domestic demand in the absence of large-scale international tourism flows.
