YEREVAN. – Criteria are developed for the setting up of gaming halls in the Armenian City of Meghri, which borders Iran.

The respective decision was adopted at Thursday’s Cabinet meeting.

In line with the decision, the casinos must be at least 300 meters away from educational, historical and cultural objects, state and local government agency buildings, and hospitals.

In late 2012, legislative changes were made, pursuant to which gaming halls may operate in Armenia solely in four cities (Tsaghkadzor, Jermuk, Sevan, and Meghri). The law went into effect on January 1, 2014, but it caused discontent among the proprietors of the casinos that are located not far from capital city Yerevan. Some of these gaming halls already have been closed down.