Intense Crackdown on Unlawful Gambling Activities: Authorities Discover Prohibited Slot Machines, Cash, and Stolen Items
Recent Crackdowns in Hamburg, Ludwigshafen, and Hamm: Seizing Illegal Gambling Equipment and Cash
Authorities have executed extensive raids in Hamburg, Ludwigshafen, and Hamm within the past few days. These operations led to the seizure of illicit gambling machines, large sums of cash, and stolen goods. Numerous establishments have been shut down, and reports have been filed detailing these incidents.
Hamburg: Unlimited Gambling Machines Uncovered
Hamburg police conducted thorough checks in Hamburg Mitte on January 23. A total of three locations were inspected, revealing several infractions.
In a bar, officers discovered 20 manipulated gambling machines without any limits. Players could potentially gamble indefinitely on these machines, which are against the law, resulting in their confiscation.
In addition, police found over 2,000 Euros in cash on the premises. Given the suspicion that the money stemmed from illegal gambling activities, it was secured. A case was initiated against the facility's operator.
During a bar control, officers found another manipulated machine as well. Along with this, approximately 5,500 Euros in presumed earnings from the machine, as well as a stolen drill machine, were confiscated from another location later that evening.
In September 2023, Hamburg police had already seized gambling machines with tampered payout rates.
Hamm: Three Unlawful Gambling Machines Secured
Large-scale raids targeting illegal gambling were conducted in Hamm on the night of January 20. The focus was on controlling discotheques and gaming clubs.
Officers discovered three illegal gambling machines within the gaming association's premises. The machines were confiscated, and the establishment was closed due to additional violations.
"We investigated if there were any permits, made inquiries, and ensured that youth protection regulations were followed."– Matthias Walter, Head, Communal Ordnance Service, WA
During the raid, which took place between 10 PM and 5 AM, officers carried out further commercial checks. Two shops were closed due to missing permits.
Raids Against Illegal Gambling in Austria and Switzerland Succeedful
The police in Austria and Switzerland also regularly conduct raids against illegal gambling. The authorities often manage to detect violations and penalize the responsible parties.
In a large-scale raid in Salzburg in November 2023, police secured a total of 67 unlawful gambling machines. Wine bars, betting shops, and cosmetics studios were disguised as legitimate businesses, while illegal gambling establishments were found in the shops.
In Switzerland, authorities dealt a significant blow to illegal gambling in September 2023. They arrested the head of a gambling syndicate who allegedly operated an illegal network. It is suspected that it involved illegal gambling websites where several million francs were wagered each month.
Ludwigshafen: Two Priorities for Suspected Illegal Gambling
Ludwigshafen police also conducted checks on the evening of January 23. Although the primary focus was not on illegal gambling, some infractions were discovered.
Officials inspected various food service establishments during these inspections. Consequently, two reports were filed for suspected illegal gambling. The specifics of the violations remain unknown at this time.
In light of the recent crackdowns, the confiscation of manipulated gambling machines and cash in Hamburg mitte has been reported, with 20 illegal machines found in a bar and over 2,000 Euros in suspected gambling earnings.
Furthermore, Hamm authorities secured three unlawful gambling machines during their raids, leading to the closure of a gaming association due to additional violations.
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