Authorities in Switzerland have thwarted an illegal gambling den in a continuation of action against the black market across Europe.
A joint operation by the Swiss Federal Casino Commission (ESBK) and Police raided an illicit gambling den in St. Gallen, as well as another location in Rüti, Zurich, related to a suspect involved with the operation.
Authorities discovered 26 people at the location, two slot machines and a room hosting poker. 20 people were questioned at the scene, and IT equipment and over CHF 10,000 (£9,405) in cash were seized.
Under the Swiss Gambling Act, persons found to be conducting, organising or making available casino games without a licence are committing a crime and may face a prison sentence of up to five years or a financial penalty.
Widespread raids
Alongside action in Switzerland, raids have been undertaken in Spain and Sweden targeting a criminal gang operating extensive illegal gambling networks.
Europol reported that approximately 150 police officers from the Spanish National Police and Swedish Police Authority were involved in the raids on 28 and 29 November across six premises in Stockholm, Sweden and Murcia, Spain.
The action uncovered evidence of illegal gambling activity with an estimated annual turnover of €20m, and drugs were also seized at a property in Sweden believed to be used as an illegal gambling club.
Five arrests were made, and valuables, including luxury watches and cash, were also seized. Evidence of money laundering, drug trafficking and signs of possible human trafficking were also uncovered.
In the same week, authorities in the Salerno region of Italy also made three arrests related to an illegal gambling ring believed to have generated over €25m in revenue between 2019 and 2022.
Worrying EU trends
Recent raids follow concerning figures released from a European Casino Association-commissioned Yield Sec study, which estimated that the European Union’s black market dwarfs the regulated sector by more than double.
The study estimated that the illegal market is currently worth €80.6bn in gross gaming revenue annually, leading to the EU’s 27 member states losing out on approximately €20bn in tax revenue each year.
“Illegal online gambling is not a marginal issue; it is an economic and societal threat. Every euro lost to criminal operators is a euro stolen from European citizens, from legitimate and licensed businesses, and from our communities,” said Erwin van Lambaart, Chair of the ECA, on the findings.
Following the findings, regulators from across Europe have committed to unite against the black market threat by sharing information on illegal operators, as well as knowledge and better practices in identifying, investigating and sanctioning operators outside the law.
