45 illegal gaming machines destroyed in Frankfurt am Main

Illegal gambling seems to be practically omnipresent. There are heaps of unregulated casinos or betting providers on the Internet - and in the real world, too, new reports of shady sports matches, casinos operating in the black or manipulated gambling are published almost daily. The police in Frankfurt am Main recently launched a special operation in response to the increasing number of unauthorised gaming machines in the city. They destroyed no fewer than 45 of these hacked machines to send out a clear signal.

Unfair practices in the gambling sector are by no means a new phenomenon: criminals have been exploiting the allure of gambling and the many ways it can be manipulated to make illegal profits for centuries. Authorities have traditionally reacted with strict measures and targeted prosecution, while the media regularly report on such incidents.

These developments indicate an acute need for action, which not only experts but also the general public are becoming increasingly aware of.

In this context, the Frankfurt am Main city police have sent out a clear signal: On Thursday, 24 October, 45 illegally operated amusement and gambling machines, which had previously been seized in various criminal and administrative offence proceedings, were professionally destroyed. According to Frankfurt police, this action is intended to signal the increased commitment of the authorities in the fight against illegal gambling. In addition to maintaining public order, the core objective is also to support the protection of players and young people.

City police emphasise the relevance of a ‘strong message’ through the destruction campaign

Matthias Heinrich, head of the city police, emphasised the signal effect of the destruction campaign and made several statements on the subject. He emphasised that illegal gambling devices not only pose a considerable risk to users, but also serve as instruments for criminal activities - particularly with regard to tax evasion and money laundering.

‘Through regular destruction campaigns like this, we are sending a strong message: these devices are permanently withdrawn from circulation and can no longer generate untaxed profits,’ explained Heinrich.

He also emphasised the importance of the measures for player protection. Illegal machines are often de facto hacked in such a way that they enable unlimited losses and can have other highly damaging consequences for users.

‘By destroying these devices, we are making a significant contribution to maintaining security and order in Frankfurt,’ says Matthias Heinrich.

The confiscated systems are so-called unauthorised entertainment gaming devices that have been operated outside the legal framework by modifying software and hardware. The interventions often involve circumventing the stake and prize limits set out in the German Gaming Ordinance (SpielV) as well as deactivating security mechanisms such as random number generators or player locks. Self-constructed models also fall into this category.

Such practices ultimately violate the State Treaty on Gambling (GlüStV) of 2021 and the Trade Regulation Act (GewO). The operation of such terminals has legal consequences in two respects:

1. Significant tax losses are incurred, as the revenue generated is of course not properly recognised.
2. In addition, such devices increase the risk of users slipping into problematic or pathological gambling behaviour, which can have considerable social and health consequences.

Frankfurt steps up action against illegal gambling - for player protection

The recent destruction of 45 illegal gambling devices is the result of intensive investigations by the Operative Investigation and Control Unit (OPE), which has been active since 2018. This special unit has specialised in combating illegal gambling practices in Frankfurt am Main and has achieved impressive successes to date:

• More than 4,700 business inspections were carried out to check compliance with legal regulations.
• Almost 830 illegal vending machines were confiscated that were being operated without a valid licence or with manipulated software.
• The department is responsible for initiating more than 1,360 misdemeanour proceedings and over 200 criminal proceedings to ensure legal consequences for corresponding violations.
• It ordered the closure of 74 businesses that had repeatedly violated trade law provisions.
• Since 2018, a total of 242 unauthorised gambling devices with an estimated total value of almost 1.9 million euros have been destroyed.

Those responsible emphasise that tax evasion and money laundering have been significantly reduced thanks to the consistent monitoring and enforcement of legal regulations. In addition, access to illegal gambling offers has generally been made more difficult. Incidentally, investigators in Munich recently busted a large-scale illegal poker round.

Matthias Heinrich leaves no doubt that the authorities will continue to act with the utmost determination in the future:

‘Our commitment remains unbroken. Illegal gambling machines and the criminal structures behind them have no place in Frankfurt.’

The city police are planning to further intensify their efforts and are relying on modern investigation methods.

Conclusion