ESBU in Odesa region shuts down illegal online gambling service

 Detectives of the Territorial Office of the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine in the Odesa region exposed a group of individuals who conducted unlicensed online gambling.

The investigation established that two Odesa residents organized "online poker" through a special mobile application. Players transferred money to the administrators' accounts and received electronic tokens to participate in the game. Participants either won funds or lost everything, depending on the card combination.

According to detectives' estimates, the monthly turnover of the illegal service exceeded half a million hryvnias.

During searches at the suspects' residences in the Peresyp district of Odesa, detectives seized mobile phones, poker cards, chips, draft records, and a car that the suspects used for advertising.

The organizers were notified of suspicion of committing a criminal offense under Part 2 of the Article. 203-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal activity of organizing or conducting gambling, lotteries).

The pre-trial investigation is ongoing. The full range of persons involved in the illegal activities is being established.

Operational support is provided by employees of the Strategic Investigations Department in the Odesa region of the National Police of Ukraine. Procedural guidance is provided by the Odesa Regional Prosecutor's Office.