Frank talk about Sochi Casino: Dmitry Anfinogenov on the first year results and short-term plans

The casino in Krasnaya Polyana, which was opened in January 2017, can compete with the well-known European resorts, assures Dmitry Anfinogenov, the Deputy General Manager. In his interview for the Russian Gaming Week press service, he spoke about the everyday life of the southernmost casino in Russia, summed up the results of its first year of operation and shared the short-term plans.

Interviewer: Russian Gaming Week (RGW)
Speaker: Dmitry Anfinogenov (D.A.)

RGW: In media, you said that Krasnaya Polyana fully met your expectations in 2017. And what are your plans for the next few years? Do you plan to expand or upgrade the casino?

D.A.: Yes, we are planning to launch the second casino at the Rosa Khutor resort before the New Year of 2019. We are also planning to develop the existing project and become more and more successful.

RGW: Can you reveal the details of what exactly will be upgraded in Sochi Casino?

D.A.: This year we do not plan any major upgrades; we will work in the previous pace. But life itself constantly upgrades us. Each time we change ourselves for different market needs. For instance, we’ve changed our ballroom - the big hall for poker tournaments that are being held now. Preparing for large events, we always add and remove something: for example, we’ve changed the number of tables and slot machines. In general, we are keeping up with the times.

RGW: Is the casino in Sochi really a prestigious venue for concerts and events? What is the image of the gambling house today?

D.A.: It should be noted that concerts and other entertainment events are part of the life of any large casino. And we specialize not only in gambling. We have luxurious restaurants and wonderful halls for concert performances: both for chamber and for more mass ones. I can say that almost every day we have live music, artists and music bands. And once or twice the weekend there are Russian and foreign A-list celebrity performances. For example, on June 9, there will be a concert of Vladimir Kuzmin. We invite everyone, especially girls. Nice atmosphere is granted!

RGW: Can you tell us the details of your cooperation with Roskognress, please?

D.A.: We also cooperate with the administrations of Sochi and the Primorye Territory. And Roskognress is our good and reliable partner. It organizes several large international forums in Sochi, and being partners, we organize receptions and evenings within these events. After all, we have the most luxurious and convenient location in the city. That's why we have good relations with Roskognress.

RGW: What about foreign guests in your casino?

D.A.: I can say that last year we were visited by the representatives of 122 countries. But the total share of foreign guests at the same time was less than 10%. In 2017, we launched additional flights between Sochi and Israel, since it is a hot topic: about 2000 Israelis arrived to us last year. In 2018, we expect up to 10000 guests from there, but the total number of visitors, according to our expectations, will also grow. For example, in June and July, we will have a large number of guests because of the World Cup, since any international event attracts more people in addition to those who come to us for gambling.

RGW: How does seasonality influence over your casino? Are there peaks and turn-downs?

D.A.: Like almost any business in Sochi, our casino has two distinct seasons: winter and summer. Summer is the beach season, and winter is the skiing one. And the peak of the season is our birthday, January 5. It is the middle of the winter holidays and New Year's festivities: on this day we are visited by at least 3500 guests. As for seasonality, it is quite heavily leveled by such events as poker tournaments. Now, it the end of May – not yet a full-fledged beach season yet; we can say it is a ‘low season’. The same situation is in October and November: the beach season has already ended, but the skiing one has not started. Therefore, in such periods of the year, we also hold poker tournaments, which gather at least thousands of unique guests each. Thanks to them, we stay within the attendance plan throughout the year. I must say that Gorki Gorod does much to level up seasonality: there is always something to do. So we have a good symbiosis with the resort.

RGW: You have repeatedly said that you are targeting Western trends. Tell us please, how do you adopt the experience?

D.A.: I am in favor of the theory that everything has been invented in the world, and that all successful projects and concepts have been implemented. Something that globally changes the world appears very rarely, and it is created by truly unique people. As for the casino, it has existed for more than a hundred years, and there are many good successful projects that can be taken as a basis. We do this very thing: we focus on them and add nuances of our local market.

We use the experience of Asian, American, European casinos and are aimed at making the most successful project in the world. We successfully compete with such world-famous centers of gambling as Monte Carlo, Monaco, Barcelona and Madrid. We clearly understand our place in the world and try to go further: never look back!

RGW: Tell us please about your report at RGW Moscow?

D.A.: It will be a big event for me. I will speak at this event for the first time. I heard a lot and read a lot about it. I treat all speakers and organizers of the project with huge respect. For me, RGW is listed among the most significant gambling events in the world. It is a good platform for exchanging business contacts and experience; participants have an opportunity to see colleagues and the latest news, discuss innovations, as well as positive and negative sides of the business.

RGW: Which aspects will you cover during the report?

D.A.: I'll tell about our project, the advantage of Sochi Casino, challenges faced. I will try to make as frank talk as possible.

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