Russia’s land-based gambling operators are finally taking the hint and suspending activities during a pandemic, while online sportsbooks are scrambling to offer customers anything on which to wager.

On Friday, Hong Kong-listed Summit Ascent Holdings announced that its Tigre de Cristal casino in Russia’s Primorye gaming zone outside Vladivostok was temporarily suspending its gaming operations starting Saturday (28) and extending through April 5. The intention is to “prevent crowds from gathering” during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

Casinos in Russia’s Krasnaya Polyana gaming zone in Sochi announced Thursday that they would “temporarily suspend the admission of guests” on the advice of the region’s medical authorities. The Altai Palace casino in the Siberian Coin gaming zone is also shutting down its gaming operations “until a new government order” is issued.

Similar shutdown notices were issued this week by Russia’s racetracks, including the Central Moscow Hippodrome and the Krasnodar Hippodrome. The tracks had attempted to continue operations with no spectators in the stands but have since bowed to the inevitable and stopped threatening the health of trainers, jockeys and track officials.