Russia Sees Underground Gambling on the Rise
Russian police have been hard at work in closing illegal casinos in Moscow. The most recent incident occurred when the police broke down an alleged illegal casino being run out of a $60,000 a month apartment. The owner is now facing up to five years in prison if it is proven that he was carrying on an illegal gambling facility in the luxury location. This is just one example of the illegal activities that are running rampant in Russia. The interesting thing about this particular location is that it was so opponent in nature. The location allegedly was housing two poker tables, ten gambling machines, two full-service roulette games and a full bar that included $15,000 bottles of cognac. So far the Russian police force that entered the location already seized $500,000 in various money, chips and financial paperwork.
The problem with organizing an illegal operation line this one is that back in July of last year Russia closed all poker rooms. The new rule was that rooms were no longer legal and all gambling had to be done at one of four designated gambling locations throughout the country. The goal was to spur on new tourism in areas in desperate need of financial reinvigoration. Much of the country, like the world, was hit hard after the recession and is still trying to repair its ravished financial state. Officials were hoping that gambling would be the answer to the problems the country is facing.
Unfortunately the move to make all ancillary locations for gambling illegal didn’t do the good that was intended. Many on the police force believe that the ban is what moved the poker dens to increase in numbers. Much of the problems can be attributed to the lack of funds many areas have—they are looking for their own solutions and finding that illegal gambling is the hopeful answer to their problems. These “underground casinos” are growing in numbers. The police force now has to be even more vigilant and determined to uncover them and close them down. Though they are finding more locations, more and more are cropping up—proving that people are resilient and determined to find their own solutions to the aftermath of the economic downturn.
Tags: gambling, illegal, online, Russia, underground
