ESBU in Odesa shuts down illegal gambling network: property worth 3.3 million UAH seized

 Detectives of the Territorial Office of the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine in the Odesa region have uncovered another network of illegal, unlicensed gambling establishments operating in three districts of the city.

The gambling halls were located on the ground floors of residential high-rise buildings on Akademika Filatova, Torhova, Mahistralna, and Sviatoslava Rikhtera streets, as well as Volodymyr Velykyi Avenue. These venues operated 24/7 without signage or outdoor advertising, functioning without a registered legal entity, and without requiring licenses or tax payments.

The suspects meticulously concealed their activities. Only verified or regular customers were granted access to the premises with gaming machines after making a phone call. The entrance was controlled by a video surveillance system. Newcomers were only allowed to play after a background check using a special database.

During the searches, detectives seized computer equipment, peripheral devices, cash, mobile phones, draft records, and advertising publications. The estimated value of the seized property amounts to over 3.3 million UAH.

The pre-trial investigation is ongoing into signs of a criminal offense under Part 2 of Article 203-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (conducting gambling games without a license for the relevant type of activity in complicity with other subjects of a criminal offense, committed by prior conspiracy by a group of persons).

Procedural guidance is being provided by the Odesa Regional Prosecutor's Office.