YEREVAN, JANUARY 14, NOYAN TAPAN. In 2008 the RA ministry of finance provided 55 prize-winning game licences, 6 casino licences and 2 licences for lottery organization. The ministry rejected 2 bids for a game organization licence and 4 bids of a prize-winning game licence. 6 casino licences and 2 ones for lottery organization were recognized as invalid. According to the press service of the ministry, last year fines of 1.9 mln drams (about 6.3 thousand USD) were imposed on organizers of prize-winning games, fines of 3.1 mln drams were imposed on casino organizers. Warnings were given regarding 9 prize-winning game licences and 3 casino licences. Violations forming a basis for suspension of a licence were recorded regarding 8 prize-winning game licences and 5 casino licences. State duties of 1 bln 385 mln drams were collected last year, including state duties of 585 mln drams for prize-winning games, 400 mln drams for casinos, and 400 mln drams for lotteries. There were 118 prize-winning game licences, 15 casino licences, and 4 lottery organization licences in the country as of January 1, 2009.

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