There are numerous illegal gambling halls across Ukraine, but holding the organizers accountable often proves difficult. “This issue is especially prevalent in Kyiv and its surrounding region. There are many illegal establishments in Ukraine, and it’s not always physically possible to respond to each one exposed by BEB employees. That’s why we cooperate with the National Police.
Typically, they are the first to respond when a gambling hall is discovered, and then they inform our team. Even during night shifts, the police go out, document the existence of these halls, and report back to us,” noted the acting head of the bureau. He also acknowledged that proving the involvement of those responsible for organizing illegal gambling can be challenging.
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“We must conduct thorough investigations and document instances where players receive winnings. It’s crucial to prove that gambling took place and money was exchanged for it, which allows us to classify it as illegal activity. Once we gather this evidence, we confiscate the equipment, shut down the club, and investigate the criminal case. However, even then, it’s not always possible to bring formal charges against those involved,” he explained.
As of August this year, the BEB had been conducting pre-trial investigations in 96 criminal cases related to the illegal organization of gambling and lotteries. If you found this publication helpful and interesting, we recommend subscribing to our breaking gambling news to receive notifications about the latest updates and stay informed about current events. If you found this publication helpful and interesting, we recommend subscribing to our breaking gambling news to receive notifications about the latest updates and stay informed about current events.
