by: Gene Koprowski.
Politicians voted overwhelmingly to ratify the bill, arguing that gambling in this economically struggling ex-Soviet state should be consolidated
Ukraine's parliament passed a law
temporarily prohibiting gambling until all casinos and slot machines
are moved to a government-approved legal gambling area on the Black
Sea, far from the capital Kiev.
"The gambling addiction has turned into an epidemic," Valery Pysarenko, a politician from Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko's party. "Today marks a big victory for all Ukrainians."
The party co-wrote the bill together with the main opposition party.
The bill will take effect after it is signed by President Viktor Yushchenko.
Yushchenko has not spoken publically about the law and his spokeswoman Larisa Mudrak declined to say whether he would back the bill.
© Copyright 2009 Gambling Central's material. It may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
[ Back ]
|
![[ Enlarge Image ]](images/public/blog/original_ukraine.jpg){kind=link}