Detectives of the Territorial Department of the Economic Security Bureau in Odesa region have uncovered a network of illegal gambling halls providing access to gambling and lotteries on the Internet.

The gambling halls were located on the ground floors of high-rise buildings and kiosks. Detectives conducted searches in five premises where illegal activities were conducted. Commodity values worth more than UAH 1 million were seized. Among them: money, 50 computer desks, 65 system units, 51 monitors, a barcode receipt printer, video surveillance cameras other office equipment and draft records. Searches were conducted in one of the districts of the city Odesa.

The perpetrators hid their activities and admitted only verified or regular customers by phone call.

Investigative actions are ongoing and the full range of persons involved in illegal activities is being established.

The pre-trial investigation in the criminal proceedings on the grounds of a criminal offense stipulated by Part 1 Art. 203-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal activities in organizing or conducting gambling, lotteries) is carried out by detectives of the Territorial Department ESBU in Odesa region with the operational support of representatives of the Public interest protection department of the National Police of Ukraine and the procedural guidance of the Odesa Regional prosecutor's office.

As a reminder, detectives of the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine recently exposed and stopped the activities of a large illegal casino in Khmelnytskyi.