The first casino in one of Russia’s designated gambling zones has opened, seven months after the government forced gaming facilities elsewhere to close.

Royal Time Company opened the doors of Casino Oracle in Azov City, on the Azov Sea coast, last Saturday. The 1,500sq.m property features over 200 slot machines and 10 gambling tables, as well as a restaurant and bar. An 11-room hotel is to be opened later this year, with a 233-room hotel planned for 2017.

Although the operator is planning to offer free transport from the cities of Krasnodar and Rostov-on-Don, the distances involved and the apparent lack of interest from other investors has raised concern that the gambling zones will struggle to attract visitors.

Iowa lawmakers are betting that you may want to someday bet on the Superbowl. Iowa Senate president Jack Kibbie has introduced a bill to legalize sports betting for professional sports.

Making changes to the gaming industry has been a hot topic in Des Moines, with lawmakers considering a number of other proposals aimed at generating revenue through gambling.

“Where’s the logic? The availability has been going up and the funding going down for education and treatment” says Doug Billingsley of ADDS Gambling treatment services.

Billingsly says gambling is the third leading cause of suicide nationwide.

He says he’s not against having more gambling but hopes there will be more investment in gambling treatment.