Police Shut Down Ten More Illegal Gambling Clubs in Russia

Russian authorities recently discovered and closed ten illegal gambling venues in Moscow.

A report issued by the Russian Interior Ministry announced that Moscow’s police officers recently shut down ten illegal gambling clubs. Each of them was making a profit of around $3,000 per day.

Following the arrest of a Moscow police district deputy, who was suspected of covering up illicit gambling operations, the Russian authorities organized several raids. This is how they discovered an illegal ring lead by immigrants from Georgia and Udmurtia.

According to local gambling news reports, police officers confiscated 300 gambling machines and computers, as well as $150,000 in cash.

61,000 illegal dens shut down since 2009

Illegal gambling is quite “popular” in the country. Earlier this month, members of an illegal gambling ring have been absolved of all charges, after their case was dismissed under economic amnesty.

Since 2009, when state officials passed a new Russian gambling law restricting all casinos to Kaliningrad Oblast, Krasnodar Krai, Altai Krai and Primorsky Krai, the police shut down 61,000 illegal joints.

A statement released by the Prosecutor General’s Office detailed that the total amount of fines imposed on illegal operators adds up to $17.1 million. In addition, almost 800,000 slot machines were seized.