Underground illegal gambling operations continue to plague Russian authorities, but the case involving Maxim Cherepanov has all the drama of a Guy Ritchie crime drama.
Members of an illegal casino network are set to be tried by the Central and Soviet District Courts of Krasnoyarsk, however, Cherepanov, the alleged leader of the operation, still remains at large.
Cherepanov is accused of setting up a casino in the basement of a store in the Krasnoyarsk region of Russia alongside 36 accomplices, generating revenues between 2m and 20m roubles (£18,763 – £187,487) per month.
The actions of the group fall under Part 3 of Article 171.2 of the Russian Criminal Code, which is punishable by fines up to 500,000 rubles or up to six years imprisonment.
The courts will hear the case on 20 November.
Arrests were made by Russian law enforcement in October 2023. According to local reports, information about the games was disseminated through closed messaging apps, and access to the casino was only possible through invitation or sponsorship from regular players.
Cherepanov remains on Russia’s federal wanted list, and the charges were brought against him in absentia in February.
Four of the defendants have already entered into pre-trial cooperation agreements. Two further defendants had previously been sentenced to one and a half years’ probation, and two others are currently serving in the Russian military.
Continued action
This case highlights the intensifying pressure that Russia’s black market is facing from the authorities.
In May, videos circulated on Telegram showing Russian authorities making a slew of arrests, reportedly as part of efforts to bring down a network of illegal casinos.
Conducted by the Department of Internal Affairs, the Republic of Sakha, the FSSB and the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia, bundles of cash could also be seen being taken away.
In total, sixteen members of the gang were arrested, and the two leaders were also detained.
More recently, three people in the Yevpatoria region of Crimea were arrested for running an illegal casino that was disguised as a computer club.
Targeting crypto payments
Alongside direct action, Russia’s Government is currently exploring ways to take down illegal operators, including by targeting crypto to curtail transactions in the sector.
Evgeny Masharov, a key member of the Russian Civic Chamber, has been tasked with spearheading the charge, and he previously emphasised the threat of the black market as it holds the ability to operate with a level of freedom that the regulated market simply doesn’t have.
He told the Russian news outlet TASS: “Gamification has become a trend, while the simplicity and convenience of the game attract new users. The legal market of bookmakers loses to illegals, as the latter do not have requirements for identification and age verification.”
