The Russian authorities are claiming to have shut down nearly 4,000 illegal casinos since a ban was introduced in 2009.

Sergei Ivanov of Russai’s Prosecutor General’s Office, told the RIA Novosti news agency that 3,900 illegal casinos and more than 25,000 gambling operations posing as lottery clubs have been closed.

“More than 390,000 pieces of gambling equipment have been confiscated and the amount of fines has topped 91m roubles (US$3m),” he said.