Videos circulating on the messaging service Telegram have shown Russian authorities making a slew of arrests reportedly as part of efforts to bring down a network of illegal casinos.
The series of videos shows law enforcement arresting multiple individuals allegedly involved in the casino operations and seizing bundles of cash.
According to the reports, a total of sixteen members of the gang were arrested, and the two leaders were also detained.
Subsequently, Russia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs Media reported that the underground network, located in the Yakutia region, has been taken down.
The operation against the network was spearheaded by the Department of Internal Affairs, the Republic of Sakha, the FSSB and the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia.
The action by authorities continues Russia’s push to eradicate illegal operators within the country.
Last month, it was revealed that the Russian government is exploring plans to shut down online gambling operators and block websites. In addition, the government is also looking to take aim at crypto in a bid to curtail transactions to the online gambling sector.
Evgeny Masharov, a key member of the Russian Civic Chamber, has been charged with spearheading the latest regulatory efforts.
He stated: “The problem of illegal gambling can be solved in two ways: the first is blocking websites and applications, the second is blocking payments in cryptocurrency.”
Speaking to Russian news outlet TASS, Masharov 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 stated: “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.”
At the heart of the proposals is the effort to elevate communications and bolster its influence over the black market.
Looking ahead, he continued by expressing confidence that the regulatory regime can be “fine-tuned” following the discussions.
