In 2005, the Ministry of Finances and Economy has provided 18 licenses for casino games and 4 for casinos. Eleven casino games, six casinos and 2 lotteries have lost their licenses. Last year, the money from the casino games, casinos and lotteries was handed over to the state budget and all put together equals the 895 million dram state tax, of which 195 million is for the casino games, 400 million for casinos and 300 million for lotteries. During the year, 5 casino games and 2 casinos have lost their license. The organizers have paid a 3-4 million fine. According to the Ministry’s press service, stopping the casinos and the lotteries doesn’t mean that they have lost their license. Those companies simply stop working for a while. They will be able to work as soon as they pay the fines. Six of the seven companies have stopped working with a license due to the debts they have to pay to the state. One company was forbidden to continue working due to the fact that it had not let the ministry know about change in address. As of January 1, there are 51 casino games, 18 casinos and three lotteries with licenses in Armenia.
