| In common with most of the states that came out of | | | | than they are about playing games of skill. |
| the ex-Soviet Union and that are now in the | | | | As such, Armenia's casinos might be more interesting |
| Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Armenia | | | | as part of an anthropological expedition than a |
| and Armenians took readily to casinos and gambling in | | | | vacation destination. |
| general. | | | | A list of Armenia's casinos includes: |
| Again, in common with their fellow states in the CIS, | | | | Argavand: Pharaon Casino and Joy Casino |
| there had been a thriving underground, or illegal, | | | | Parakar: National Casino |
| gambling scene before the breakup. This was all a part | | | | Parakar-Thairov: Blue Diamond Casino |
| of the almost insanely large black market or illegal | | | | The National Casino has four gaming tables and slot |
| economy that existed. As this economy exclusively | | | | and video machines, as well. The Blue Diamond Casino |
| (and necessarily) worked in cash, you can imagine that | | | | has 18 table games in total and a further 45 slot and |
| there were a lot of people around with large sums | | | | poker machines. |
| burning a hole in their pockets. | | | | Armenia has also been either at war or in a state of |
| With the fall of the Soviet Union, many of these | | | | near war with neighboring Azerbaijan since the |
| businesses became legal, as did many of the casinos, | | | | breakup of the Soviet Union. There is an enclave of |
| bars, and nightclubs where the money had previously | | | | each country within the other that they are fighting |
| been spent. Armenia's casinos may not be in the same | | | | over: Nagorno-Karabakh and Nakichevan. It's not |
| locations that they were, but they are run by very | | | | important to remember which is which, as even the |
| much the same people as before and fulfill the same | | | | locals can become confused on the subject and why |
| social function. They are places for the rich to show | | | | each is so important. At times, the various pieces of |
| how rich they are, by eating and drinking extravagantly | | | | fighting have led to embargoes on border crossings |
| and gambling prodigiously. It can almost seem that the | | | | and so on, not just between the two countries, but |
| more expensive a drink, (and the more expensive it is | | | | with neighboring ones, as well. |
| known to be) and the more money is lost while still | | | | Armenia's casinos may indeed be interesting but there |
| smiling, the better: which is true to a point, for they are | | | | are easier places to go to for a decent gambling |
| more about showing off wealth to an adoring crowd | | | | game. |