Some 200 former casino employees have protested in front of the Kyrgyz government building in Bishkek, demanding jobs and compensation.
Protesters say some 15,000 gambling industry employees were left without jobs after casinos and gambling halls were shut down nationwide under a new antigambling law that came into force on January 1.
Former employees and supporters have been staging regular protests since the ban went into effect.
According to official statistics, the gambling industry annually contributed some $11 million in taxes to Kyrgyzstan's economy.
There have been calls to create a single gambling zone in the Central Asian country, but parliament has so far rejected such proposals.
With agency reports
Protesters say some 15,000 gambling industry employees were left without jobs after casinos and gambling halls were shut down nationwide under a new antigambling law that came into force on January 1.
Former employees and supporters have been staging regular protests since the ban went into effect.
According to official statistics, the gambling industry annually contributed some $11 million in taxes to Kyrgyzstan's economy.
There have been calls to create a single gambling zone in the Central Asian country, but parliament has so far rejected such proposals.
With agency reports
