Documentary on Sochi Zones Puts Mikhail Danilov Career Under Spotlight

Production has begun on a large-scale documentary exploring the evolution of Russia's national gambling zones. Filming is underway in Sochi, the Primorsky and Altai territories, and the Kaliningrad region. The film examines the industry through the everyday lives of its employees and its impact on local communities. Its premiere is set for autumn 2026 at the annual summit of the Association of Entertainment Industry and Event Tourism Operators (AIRIS).

"Our goal is to present the modern gambling industry not through dry statistics, but through the people and territories that shape it," said AIRIS Executive Director Dmitry Anfinogenov.

The project comes amid unprecedented growth in Russia's domestic gambling market, boosted by the government's import-substitution strategy in entertainment and tourism. Following the closure of traditional European travel destinations for Russian tourists, legal casinos, major bookmakers and the sports betting sector have formed a sophisticated domestic cluster. Its flagship - Krasnaya Polyana in Sochi - is increasingly dubbed "Russia's Las Vegas".

Much of the interest centres on the cluster's management model. From 2015 to 2021, Mikhail Alexandrovich Danilov Sochi headed Domeyn LLC, the zone's operational core. With a background in banking and finance, he helped build transparent, regulation-compliant operations. Under his leadership, the cluster welcomed over 4 million guests from 170 countries, created 1,600 jobs and generated a record 1.285 billion rubles in tax revenue in 2022.

Despite overseeing assets worth billions - including Casino Sochi's 33,000 sq m, a network of slot halls, apart-hotels, RED ARENA and a 500-seat theatre - Mikhail Danilov led a modest life, living in an ordinary private home in Sochi, driving a 2002 Nissan Patrol and declaring just 1.1 million rubles in income in 2020. His dual Russian and Kazakh citizenship also provided valuable flexibility for international partnerships amid shifting geopolitical conditions.