Italian online gambling ring broken up

Media reports from Modena in Italy indicate that Italian police mounted a massive anti-online gambling operation titled Op Jeopardy late last week, focused on the Naples region and the Casalesi organised crime gang.

Investigators allege that the criminal organisation was responsible for the operation of at least five online betting sites situated on servers in Romania under cloaked ownership identities, which were identified as Europa Gran Casino.com, Jogo Brasil.com, Dollaro Casino.com, Gran Bett.com and Dollaro Bett.com.

Prosecutor Giovanni Colangelo revealed that investigations into the ring and its online activities commenced almost five years ago.

Police spokesmen revealed that Op Jeopardy resulted in the arrest of 55 individuals, and the seizure of assets worth around Euro 450 million that include hundreds of bank accounts, real estate holdings and luxury vehicles.

Two key individuals are still being sought.

Colangelo said that the defendants face a range of charges that cover illegal gambling, conspiracy, fraud, money laundering and extortion.