The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) announced that a dozen people have been arrested for involvement in illegal online gaming operations. According to the Philippine regulator, the operation was carried out on February 16 in Parañaque City.

A total of 12 people were arrested in the operation which was carried out by the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), the Anti-Cybercrime Group of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the PAGCOR monitoring team.

Alejandro Tengco, PAGCOR’s chief executive officer and chair, commented on the matter, saying that the authorities searched a den and caught suspects red-handed while operating the illegal gambling platform The Big Bet (tbb888.com). According to Tengco, The Big Bet offered illegal gambling products, such as slot machines, live casino products and esports bets, among others. 

In addition to arresting twelve people, the raiders also seized eleven computer sets, 21 mobile phones, 2 ipads, 5 laptops and multiple flash drives.

PAGCOR Wants to Eliminate Illegal Competition 

According to PAGCOR’s senior vice president for security and monitoring cluster, Raul Villanueva, the seized devices confirmed the group’s involvement in the operation of illegal online gambling. Villanueva also confirmed that cases will be filed against the suspects before the Parañaque Regional Trial Court.

Villanueva further addressed the matter, saying that the operation was a part of the Philippine authorities’ unified efforts to crack down on illegal gambling activities. He said that the regulator vows to continue working together with law enforcement authorities such as the PNP and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency to put a stop to such operations.

We are also working closely with the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center under the Department of Information and Communications Technology because we have a lot more targets under surveillance.

Raul Villanueva, senior vice president for security and monitoring cluster, PAGCOR

Villanueva asked the public to stop interacting with and spending money on such illegal platforms and said that, sadly, most of the victims of such illegal sites are Filipino players. He said that consistent monitoring and reporting is needed in order to protect bettors and ensure that revenues from regulated gaming are channeled back to the government.

The SVP concluded that there used to be close to 5,000 illegal online gaming websites operating in the Philippines. Luckily, most of these have already been blocked, he added.

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During a crackdown aimed at 252 illegal establishments and entertainment venues spread citywide across three days, Hong Kong authorities have completed 347 total arrests connected to triad-controlled sex, drug, and gambling businesses. 

Uncovered Illegal Businesses, Closed Down

The hundreds of drug dens, gambling venues, and pubs that did not carry any licenses to function were visited by the police Friday through Sunday in collaboration with fire and immigration services as part of a complex, multi-department action aimed at discovering illegal businesses. 

Among the visited entertainment venues, the police mentioned game centers, mahjong parlors, pubs, nightclubs, and saunas. 

A police spokesman explained the illegal businesses that did not comply with the law were “closed down.” Besides the 252 locals who were placed under arrest, the authorities also retained 13 mainlanders and three people who were illegally staying in the city.

Similarly, in  February 2023, the Hong Kong Police Force announced it arrested 234 individuals, including dozens of suspected triad members during operation Levington.

Fighting Off Triad Activities, a Top Priority

According to a recent police statement, all 347 suspects were detained on suspicion of various offenses. The list featured trafficking in a dangerous drug, claims to be members of a triad society, managing gambling establishments, criminal damages, managing drug dens, wounding, or accusations related to laundering crime proceeds.

The police spokesperson further emphasized that “Combating triad activities is one of the top priorities of the commissioner of police.”

The spokesperson added that the authorities will keep enhancing intelligence gatherings and taking “timely and targeted law enforcement actions” against violent crimes, organized crime activities, and their income sources.

Last October, two high-profile incidents related to gangsters in the New Territories convinced the authorities to perform two similar triad crackdown operations across the city.

During one of the four-day anti-triad operations, police officers raided entertainment venues run by the triad, while deciding to shut down a series of brothels and gambling dens.

Between October 26 and 29, police made 46 arrests, including the “Bei Wing,” the alleged leader of the Sun Yee On faction in Tuen Mun.

Last December, law enforcement in Hong Kong made over 100 arrests while shutting down gambling dens, and seizing cash, bank cards, and criminal proceeds.  

In the first 10 months of 2023, police authorities tackled no less than 1,620 different reports of crimes tied to triads, marking a 2.2% rise from the 1,585 cases that were recorded in the same period of 2022.

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The Thai Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has confiscated two luxurious villas from operators of UFA, an illegal online gambling network for high rollers. As reported by The Thaiger, a Thai news outlet, the two properties are worth over 2 billion baht in total (roughly $56.5 million).

For reference, the villas are located in Phuket’s coastal area, overlooking Nai Harn Bay. Their combined area is around 3.75 acres. Both properties were called Thousand Hills Phuket.

The confiscation of the two properties was led by Director General Police Major Suriya Singhakamol. When the DSI officers arrived, the only people at the villas were housekeepers and ground staff. Suriya’s people notified the staff of the seizure and proceeded to place notices around the two properties.

According to the DSI, the two villas are owned by a syndicate that has connections to UFA, the aforementioned illegal gambling network. While all forms of online gambling are strictly prohibited in the country, illegal operators have been filling the niche.

Suriya learned that the properties are learned to a man who was identified as Phakphum, also known as Didi. He was arrested earlier this month and is believed to have been a revenue manager for the UFA network.

At first, Phakphum denied having been involved in the operation of UFA. However, he eventually admitted to his ties to the gambling operation and, as a result, was charged with violations of Thailand’s AML Act.

In addition to serving as the revenue manager of UFA, Phakphum was also related to the operation of factories that operated “mule accounts.” Phakpfum’s facilities were predominantly operated by migrants who used over 80 mule accounts for gambling websites.

According to The Thaiger’s report, 30 of these accounts were registered under the names of Thai players. Each of these accounts handled billions of baht in turnover and processed 3% of the income from the 83 gambling sites Phakphum managed.

The Crackdown Continues

The UFA network is believed to encompass dozens of websites. Its founder, Phuchit, is yet to be arrested as of the time of this writing. Suriya and the DSI are actively pursuing the mastermind, his sister, Phonpansa, as well as 13 other people with ties to UFA and its operations.

Suriya asked people connected to the illegal gambling operation to surrender themselves, lest they risk additional money laundering charges. The major believes that the seizure of the two villas is an important first step in the crackdown on UFA.

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Last month, an operation by the Singapore National Police against a group of foreign nationals, allegedly involved in money laundering and other criminal activities, including online gambling and scams, resulted in the arrest and charges against 10 individuals. At the time of the announcement, an estimated S$1 billion ($732.2 million) in assets were seized.

In a recent update on Wednesday, the Singapore National Police confirmed that the estimated value of the seized assets amid the ongoing investigation soared to a staggering S$2.4 billion ($1.7 billion). Moreover, a prohibition of disposal order was filed as well, meaning that the assets, which included gold bars, properties, luxury watches, cars and bags, could not be sold.

The initial operation included simultaneous raids in areas, including River Valley, Sentosa, Bukit Timah, Orchard Road and Tanglin. Ten individuals, arrested during the operations, are facing charges related to money laundering. The alleged participants in the illegal operation included foreign nationals with passports from China, Cambodia, Cyprus as well as Turkey. The investigations into the massive money laundering operation continue.

“In response to media queries, the Police provided an update on further operations conducted in relation to the group of foreign nationals suspected to be involved in laundering the proceeds of their overseas organized crime activities, including scams and online gambling. During these operations, additional assets were seized and issued with prohibition of disposal orders. To date, the total value of assets seized or issued with prohibition of disposal orders by the Police stands at more than S$2.4 billion,“

reads a statement released by the Singapore Police Force

Bank Accounts Frozen, Cash and Expensive Items Seized

According to the recent statement released by the Singapore Police Force, some S$1,127 million ($820.1 million) was seized from bank accounts. Additionally, the operation sized approximately S$76 million ($55.6 million) in cash that included foreign banknotes.

The massive anti-money laundering operation seized 294 luxury bags, as well as 164 luxury watches and a staggering 68 gold bars. During the raids, some 546 jewelry pieces were seized, along with 204 electronic devices including mobile phones and computers. Cryptocurrency, valued at more than S$38 million ($27.8 million) was seized as well.

Some 62 cars along with 110 properties, estimated to be worth more than S$1,242 million ($878.7 million) were impacted by the prohibition of disposal orders. The law enforcement even sized ornaments, as well as bottles of wine and liquor.

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German gamblers take great pride in their local gaming establishments much like some online gamblers have a favorite “home” website, but much more so. The operators and local officials do too, and they aren’t shy about showing that devotion and affection for the venues. More than brand loyalty, the connection is personal.

The spa town of Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler is no exception to that rule as can be seen when looking at the recent opening of Spielbank Bad Neuenahr in a new location after a major disaster took the beloved local and regional gambling hall away.

The Night the House Edge was Not Enough

200 people died in Germany and Belgium 2 years ago in a historic flood. Damage to the local casino was so severe, and the insurance coverage to re-open in the same location would only provide about half of what it had for the prior calamity, so officials decided to never rebuild the 7-decades-old casino in the same location.

As described by Weather.com, the water came overnight on July 14-15, 2021. It funneled through sometimes narrow and steep sections, taking with it homes, bridges and roads and leaving behind a mud-covered path of destruction. Some 3,000 of 4,200 buildings along the River Ahr were damaged.

The casino was situated directly on the river Arh.

Instead, they chose to convert a nearby historic train station with neo-gothic architecture into a new casino.

After a soft opening a little over three weeks ago that allowed dealers and new staff to become accustomed to their new digs, Spielbank Bad Neuenahr held an official grand opening for the small but competent gambling spot on July 20, 2023.

During the official opening ceremonies, Michael Seegert, Managing Partner of Spielbank Bad Neuenahr GmbH & Co. KG welcomed local dignitaries and officials to the new location.

In his welcome message, Seegert said: “It’s been a little more than two years since, like countless others in the Ahr Valley, suddenly nothing was the same for us overnight. Our administration building was completely destroyed and flooded and demolished shortly afterwards with all our historical files and documents from 73 years of company history.

“Our gaming facilities and the entire building services on the ground floor of the Kurhaus were smashed and the surroundings of the casino were devastated. The only pleasing aspect was that we did not have to mourn any victims due to the early closure of the casino. But the damage to property was immense and even the maximum compensation from the insurance company was not sufficient to compensate for all the damages. The question arose, so what should we do?”

Management looked at about a dozen nearby locations, and although they didn’t find one with everything they wanted or needed, the team settled for a well-situated location with less space – which meant the number of games would have to be reduced, but all other qualities could be maintained and the historic casino could continue to offer the same level of top-tier service to local gamblers and others nearby who were die-hard fans.

Familiar Location for Most Customers

The train and bus station was already a well-known hub for travelers to the area with 5-star hotels, so footfall was expected to remain strong. This proved to be true as customer traffic from all around began right away during the soft opening and never really waned.

“We came to the only possible decision with the shareholders after difficult discussions that the future of the casino with these latent risks cannot lie in the Kurhaus,” Seegert added. “So, with a heavy heart, we gave up the traditional location and started looking for alternatives in Bad Neuenahr, in Ahrweiler, and in the surrounding area.”

“Since there were only very limited as-built plans from the construction period, we experienced many surprises during the renovation work, and the installation of an air conditioning system, in particular, was a huge challenge that caused us many a sleepless night,” added Seegert. “That’s why we are particularly happy and proud to have a new casino in Bad Neuenahr just two years after the destruction.”

The new location holds about 75 slot machines, two blackjack tables, and two roulettes wheels. The prior location held 16,000 square feet of casino floor featuring 150 slots with 8 table games, and two restaurants.

“All in all, I am very pleased that with the reopening of the casino, we can contribute another piece of the mosaic on the arduous path of reconstruction in Bad Neuenahr and the return to the old attractiveness of the city and the region,” Seegert added.

Seegert praised each and every participant in the arduous venture of finding and preparing a new home for the venue, commending the ‘highest level of commitment and a lot of heart and soul,” shown by employees, project managers, architects, and engineers, city administrators and others.,

Source: Spielbank Bad Neuenahr holds official grand opening, G3 Newswire, July 25, 2023

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Camelot, the incumbent operator of Britain’s National Lottery, reported record-breaking ID check rates across its shops in the United Kingdom. The company noted that the results attest to its commitment to safer gambling.

As part of its Operation 18 mystery shopper program, Camelot made more than 11,600 retailer visits. The results of this initiative demonstrated that a whopping 92% of retailers did indeed ask customers for ID as proof of age on their first visit.

Camelot called these results “impressive,” especially when considering that the minimum age to participate in the National Lottery was increased from 16 to 18 in 2021.

In addition to its Operation 18 program, Camelot also ran a variety of other Responsible Retailing training initiatives. As an example, the company’s Retail Team contacted National Lottery retailers more than 160,000 times, offering advice on preventing underage gambling and supporting healthy play.

Speaking of healthy play, the company’s Healthy Play mystery shopping initiative saw employees make over 4,000 store visits, educating retailers on the signs of potential gambling harm. Luckily, 94% of the visited shops passed the healthy play knowledge check, highlighting the importance of regular communication.

To top it off, Camelot reported a strong end of the year with 88% of retailers saying that they were content with the level of service Camelot’s dedicated retailer hotline provided.

Alex Green Praised the Results

Alex Green, Camelot’s retail director, commented on the results, thanking all National Lottery retailers for their dedication to prioritizing player safety. He lauded their efforts in complying with the recently changed age of play, saying that the impressive results of the Operation 18 campaign attest to the hard work of both retailers and Camelot’s team.

Green added that age checks are only one form of player protection. However, retailers’ knowledge of underage play and healthy play was equally impressive, as attested by the mystery shopper programs.

About the Program

Camelot’s Operation 18 is a mystery shopping program that fields youthful adults (since using minors would be against the law) who visits shops across the country to check whether retailers would ask them for ID.

If a retailer sells to these mystery customers three times without demanding an ID first, the National Lottery terminal would be suspended and may even get removed. Luckily, the results of the program show that most of the shops across the United Kingdom are committed to following the rules.

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Last October, a criminal gang from Hong Kong was arrested after it was discovered that it had collected HK$40 million ($510,000) using an illegal gambling platform run by the members of the organization. 

Now, further proving its ongoing efforts to crack down on the triads that are usually connected to illegal gambling, sex and drug trafficking, the authorities in the special administrative region have announced the results of another impressive operation with code name Levington. 

Hong Kong Police Sparing No Effort to Block Triads’ Income Sources 

The police forces’ investigation around the city was intended to disrupt the sale of drugs, as well as brothel and gambling activities controlled by gangs and triads. The authorities’ efforts were also aimed at stopping illegal debt collection along with illegal money lending. The operation, which was led by the Organised Crime and Triad Bureau, resulted in the successful confiscation of illegal cigarettes and drugs along with weapons, cards, and gambling chips. 

This was possible after police forces forcefully shut down 15 different gambling dens and two brothels and busted a storage center in Tin Shui Wai that was hiding contraband cigarettes.

The same authorities that announced they would adopt a zero-tolerance policy for the illegal activities of triads arrested a total of 234 suspects. 

The bust covered dozens of suspected members belonging to a number of triad factions such as Sun Yee On and 14K triads. The list included 206 Hong Kong residents and 12 people with origins in mainland China. The other 16 individuals who were busted used temporary identification documents which allowed them to stay in Hong Kong without having a job there. 

The 137 men and 97 women were busted on suspicion of wounding, money laundering, criminal intimidation and damage, possession of offensive weapons, drug trafficking, processing illegal cigarettes, illegal gambling activities, and operating vice or gambling venues. 

The Police Confiscated HK$2M in Gambling Chips 

Besides the HK$220,000 (US$28,039) worth of illegal narcotics that were confiscated as a result of the special operation, the authorities also got their hands on HK$5.9 million ($752,000) from illicit cigarettes and HK$2 million ($255,000) from confiscated gambling chips. The Hong Kong Police Force also managed to successfully seize HK$1.93 million ($246,000) worth of cash, two vehicles, and illegal weapons.

In 2022, the police authorities were handed 2,554 reports regarding crimes related to triads in Hong Kong, a number that was 35.3% higher compared to the previous year’s figure. In September 2022, three police officers in Hong Kong faked a raid in order to protect an unlicensed casino. After their actions were discovered and reported to the police by an undercover officer, the trio was arrested and sentenced to a few months in prison.

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