Sochi Casino & Resort — casino in Krasnaya Polyana, Sochi

Sochi Casino & Resort is Russia's first legal casino, which opened in January 2017 in the Krasnaya Polyana gambling zone. It was placed right in the heart of the Olympic cluster, at the Gorki Gorod resort, where gambling sits alongside skiing and panoramas of the Caucasus range. The complex was conceived as a Russian answer to Las Vegas: several gaming floors, luxurious VIP halls, restaurants, bars and a concert venue under one roof. In summer guests come for trekking and spa, in winter for the slopes, and in the evening they descend to the roulette and poker tables. This is where major poker series take place, drawing players from across the country. The uniqueness of the place lies in its contrast: an alpine landscape and cable cars outside the window, and the glitter of lights and the clink of chips inside. For many Russians, Sochi Casino became a symbol that legal gambling had returned, but now in a civilised, resort format.