ESBU shuts down underground online casino network in Odesa: indictment sent to the court

 Detectives of the Territorial Office of the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine in the Odesa region have completed a pre-trial investigation into the organizer of an illegal gambling network in Odesa.

The investigation established that a 50-year-old Odesa resident organized a network of illegal gambling establishments without the required permits. He involved a co-organizer in the criminal activity, who helped recruit staff to ensure the 24/7 operation of the gaming halls. Later, another individual was brought into the scheme to act as a manager and help oversee the operations.

The suspects divided responsibilities among all participants, establishing operational rules and instructions on how to avoid detection by regulatory authorities. They subsequently leased premises, equipped a computer hall with an online casino, set up payment systems for the games, and organized communications and video surveillance to manage operations discreetly.

All gambling establishments operated without licenses or tax payments. Access was restricted to verified clients through prior phone calls.

Administrator-cashiers accepted bets from visitors, provided access to gaming systems, and assisted with authorization and game selection. They also maintained specialized player records and informed clients about bonuses and promotions.

During searches of the gambling establishments on Filatova Street and Yaroslav Mudryi Avenue, detectives seized nearly USD 30,000, mobile phones, «shadow» accounting records, jewelry, and computer equipment.

The total value of the seized assets exceeds UAH 2.2 million. To ensure the recovery of damages caused to the state, the seized property has been placed under arrest.

The organizer has been notified of suspicion of committing a criminal offense under Part 2 of Article 203-2 (illegal activity of organizing or conducting gambling games and lotteries) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The indictment has been sent to court.

The pre-trial investigation regarding other participants in the scheme is currently ongoing. Procedural oversight is being conducted by the prosecutors of the Odesa Regional Prosecutor's Office.

As a reminder, the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine previously signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine and the state agency PlayCity. The parties agreed on joint efforts to combat the illegal gambling business.