After the Ban: Cock Fights, Rat Races and Illegal Gambling Dens

Every Thursday in the very center of the Russian capital, gamblers gather at a former casino to place bets on a sport that was declared unethical by the czar back in the 19th century: cock fighting.

Just a few meters from the cock fighting ring is the rat race.

This central casino was one of Moscow's most famous before the Russian government banned the industry in 2009. It is now a bookmaker, and the games are a way to attract customers, getting them to bet on the battling creatures. They are also reflective of a gambling industry that is still trying to adapt to life after the ban.

Read the full feature in The Moscow News.