Sverdlovsk Region’s prosecution authorities and Yekaterinburg Economic Offense Division of the Internal Affairs Department closed down a backstreet casino called ‘The Golden Orchid’ that was located downtown, on the fourth floor of the Voznesensky Hotel at 52 Mamin-Sibiryak St. The casino operated under the sign that read ‘Architectural & Construction Licensing & Quality Center’ in Room 402.

There were some gamblers in the room at the time of the raid, as well as about thirty staff members (stickmen, bartenders, and security guards). Most of the visitors to the casino happened to be foreigners.

The casino was a highly secretive affair; the gamblers could only enter using a magnetic club card and had to make the appointments over the phone well in advance.

To enter the room (which was expensively remodeled), the police had to break the doors open and detain the people present as fast as they could. The casino contained three poker tables, one roulette, eight slot machines, all of which was disassembled and confiscated, and some money in cash.