FEC operators in Russia are also having a hard time, according to reports reaching us. One major multi-location operator there reports revenues down by 40 per cent compared with 2007.
The trend in Russia has generally been to attempt to overcome the ban on gambling machines by operators turning to coin-operated amusements.
The growth of shopping malls has encouraged this, but while operators might see it as a potential lifeline, many of the players do not rate it a reasonable alternative to machine gambling.
The fact that they appeal to different markets is now coming home in Russia.
