Naples, betting also from prison: 10 arrests and seizures for 3 million

The seizure of an illegal betting shop in Marano di Napoli led to the discovery of a transnational organization dedicated to gambling and betting.

The seemingly insignificant building, devoid of any signage, concealed a well-organized structure inside, complete with video surveillance cameras, large screens, and terminals connected to websites.

Investigations by the North Naples Prosecutor's Office and the Naples Financial Police allowed them to reconstruct the organization's activities, which had a very large turnover. The sums collected were far greater than what could have been collected legally.

In total, there are eleven people against whom precautionary measures have been notified:

three people ended up in prison;
seven people are under house arrest;
another person was forced to reside in the municipality of residence.
The organization had branches in several European countries and operated through a network of illegal websites.

The investigation led to the seizure of assets worth over €10 million.

The investigation revealed a vast underground gambling network involving approximately 300 agencies operating on behalf of a Serbian agency based in Austria. The North Naples Prosecutor's Office coordinated the action of the Financial Police Unit. The charges include criminal conspiracy to collect illegal bets, money laundering, and embezzlement, aggravated by transnationality.

The investigation led to the identification of a thousand gamblers, including an inmate who was able to bet up to €800 directly from prison. The illegal betting network also operated in other commercial sectors, such as fruit and vegetable shops, insurance agencies, and laundromats.

In addition to illegal gambling, the investigation also revealed the existence of unauthorized games using slot machines disconnected from the network. The searches and seizures involved several locations in Italy and Austria, including a luxury villa belonging to a Lithuanian woman, considered one of the main suspects, along with three Italian associates.

Overall, 15 networks, 20 affiliates, and 300 agencies involved in the illegal activity were identified. Among the thousand players identified, the case of an inmate in Poggioreale prison, involved in drug trafficking, stands out. He managed to bet up to €800 a month and win as much as €15.

The criminal network involved a vast network that included partners, masters, agents, and players, with revenues also generated through the laundering of large sums of money. Some players circumvented anti-money laundering regulations by gambling abroad and betting amounts of up to €100. The investigation is ongoing, and further investigations are underway on the seized server to identify other customers involved in illegal gambling.