Illegal gambling: ESBU shuts down 5 more gambling dens in Odesa

 Detectives of the Territorial Office of the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine in the Odesa region have uncovered the operations of five additional gambling establishments. These establishments were part of a large-scale network providing unlicensed gambling services.

The illegal venues operated 24/7 on Dihtiarna, Novoselskoho, Mala Arnautska, and Yevropeiska streets, as well as on Yaroslava Mudroho Avenue.

The suspects went to great lengths to conceal their activities. Access to the slot machine rooms was restricted to verified or regular customers, who were required to make pre-arranged phone calls. Entrances were monitored by extensive video surveillance systems. Newcomers were only allowed to play after a background check against a specialized database.

The establishments operated without signage or external advertising, without creating a legal entity, necessary licenses, or paying taxes. To avoid suspicion from regulatory bodies, they were located on the ground floors of residential apartment buildings.

During the searches, detectives seized computer equipment, peripheral devices, cash, mobile phones, draft records, and advertising publications. The estimated value of the seized property is nearly 3 million UAH.

"The Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine systemically counters illegal gambling businesses: since the beginning of 2025, detectives of the Territorial Office of the ESBU in the Odesa region have uncovered 3 large-scale networks of underground gambling establishments, each comprising 3 to 27 halls. To halt illegal activities and prevent their continuation, 21 premises have been seized. As a result of the measures taken, the owners of 17 premises terminated lease agreements with the organizers of the illegal gambling operations," noted Serhii Muntian, Head of the Territorial Office of the ESBU in the Odesa region.

It should be noted that within the framework of criminal proceedings under Part 2, Article 203-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (conducting gambling 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), detectives exposed the activities of another 10 illegal gambling halls https://esbu.gov.ua/en/news/esbu-in-odesa-shuts-down-illegal-gambling-network-property-worth-33-million-uah-seized

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

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

Previously, the ESBU signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Ministry of Digital Transformation and the PlayCity State Agency, specifically agreeing on joint efforts to counter the illegal gambling business.