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