Illegal gambling keeps Russian cops busy

The Russian news agency RIA Novosti reports that since Russia banned gambling in all but four remote regions of the country in 2009, its enforcement officials have shut down 61,000 illegal operators, many in the Moscow area.

The Russian Prosecutor General’s Office released the statistics Wednesday, revealing that the owners of underground gambling parlours have been fined a total of 602 million rubles ($17.1 million), and police have confiscated over 796,000 slot machines and other gaming equipment.

According to police, the ban caused the number of illegal casinos and other gambling establishments to skyrocket and created greater opportunities for corruption.

Many gambling dens operate under the guise of Internet clubs or bingo halls, officers said.

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