The New York TIMES reporting that one of the largest mass layoffs in Russian history is about to occur this week // The Kremlin is decreeing that every slot machine parlor and casino in the country must shut down by Wednesday, according to fresh runs of the TIMES!

MORE.. The paper reports, "And in a move that at times seems to have taken on almost farcical overtones, the Kremlin has offered the gambling industry only one option for survival: relocate to four regions in remote areas of Russia, as many as 4,000 miles from the capital."

According to the World Casino Directory, Russian casinos exist with little to no supervision..

Putin signed the bill in 2007.. Gambling site ReadyBetGo.com reported in 2007, "The bill had sailed through the Federation Council (upper parliament house) without opposition on December 27, 2006. The State Duma (lower parliament house) had already approved it on December 20, 2006. "