21 December, Vitebsk /Diana Kurilo - BELTA/. Over the year, the number of gaming machines in the Vitebsk region has increased, while the number of bookmaker offices has decreased, BELTA was informed by the press service of the Inspectorate of the Ministry of Taxes and Duties of the Republic of Belarus for the Vitebsk region. Compared to December of last year, the number of gambling establishments has increased by 104 units: there are 107 more gaming machines, and the number of bookmaker offices has decreased by three, while the number of gaming tables has remained unchanged. A significant increase in the number of operating gaming machines was noted in October-November of the current year in Vitebsk and Novopolotsk. In January-November 2011, Br9.15 billion of gambling tax was paid to the budget by business entities operating gambling establishments in the Vitebsk region, which is about 0.2% of the region's tax revenues. Compared to the same period last year, payments on this tax increased by almost Br4 billion. In the Vitebsk region, 26 legal entities are engaged in entrepreneurial activity in the field of gambling business, of which 11 are registered for tax purposes in the Vitebsk region, and 15 are in other regions of the country. As of early December of the current year, there were 1124 gambling establishments in the Vitebsk region subject to gambling tax, including 11 gaming tables, 1088 gaming machines, and 25 bookmaker offices. The regional centre hosts half of the gambling establishments, Novopolotsk - 191, Orsha - 135, Polotsk - 130. Gambling establishments are also located in Postavy (36), Glubokoye (35), Tolochin (18), Chashniki (11), and Miory (8) districts.-0-

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