Tim Alper is a journalist who covers betting news and regulation for CasinoBeats. He joined the CasinoBeats team in May 2025. He reports on breaking news and developments in the world of betting, casinos, and...
Read Full BioRussian law enforcers say they have shut down a network of underground casinos after a raid on multiple addresses in the northwestern region of Vologda.
The Vologda-based media outlet progorod35 reported that prosecution officials are ready to send all of the suspects to trial.
The news outlet said the legal procedures would be “high-profile,” as officials labeled the operators a “major criminal syndicate.”
Investigators said that the group “created and operated a sprawling network of illegal gambling clubs” in the city of Cherepovets over the course of 13 years.
The regional prosecutor’s office says all the suspects have been indicted. The office has filed the cases with the Cherepovets City Court.
Illegal Casino Network: Russia Cracks Down on Organized Criminals
The prosecutors have charged the suspects with organized crime “on an especially large scale.”
They have also been charged with “illegally operating gambling facilities.” At least three suspects will also face money laundering-related offenses.
The regional branch of the Federal Security Service (FSB) says the suspects “operated as a cohesive unit, with a clear hierarchy.”
Officers said the group rented “more than 10 premises in different parts of the city.” They allegedly then turned these venues into “underground gambling halls,” featuring slot machines and specially programmed computers.
According to preliminary estimates, the network of casinos “generated over 110 million rubles ($1.35 million) in profit.” The group’s leaders allegedly laundered more than 81 million rubles ($993,868), prosecutors said.
The suspects have all been remanded in custody ahead of their trials. Prosecutors have also seized apartments, cars, and financial assets “to compensate for potential damages to the state.”
The combined value of the seized property is estimated at over 90 million rubles ($1.1 million).
A ‘Labor-Intensive’ Investigation
The FSB said it had conducted a lengthy and “large-scale investigation” into the network in conjunction with the local Ministry of Internal Affairs department.
Officials said the investigation was “extremely labor-intensive.” Investigators said they interviewed “hundreds of witnesses and conducted dozens of searches.”
The law enforcers also carried out 20 forensic accounting examinations and sent an 88-volume criminal case file to the prosecution service.
Casinos are illegal in Russia outside specially designated gambling zones. Earlier this month, a top casino association chief called on the government to green-light a new gambling zone in the Moscow region.
