Munich: Illegal poker rounds on a grand scale

There is sometimes a fine line between legal gambling or card games in a private setting and illegal rounds. However, in the case of the poker meeting that has now been uncovered in the Bavarian capital of Munich, the authorities should not have to check for long whether it was on the borderline or not. A lavish setting with professional equipment, exquisite catering and lots of cash, which came to light after lengthy investigations, leave little doubt about a profit-oriented and ultimately illegal background.

In old films, the crooks gamble in back rooms and pull off a few stunts in the process. Illegal gambling - stylised by cinema and TV portrayals - is sometimes shown in a somewhat romantic light. However, such events also exist in reality - and in the here and now they are generally far less tranquil.

In the current case, which was investigated by the police after months, the way the poker round was organised was a decisive indication of the professional and therefore illegal nature of the activities. According to the authorities, the organisers had not only organised high-quality poker equipment, but also catering services and luxurious amenities to keep the participants happy. Such details are typical features of commercial gambling events, which clearly have criminal relevance and are often supported by criminal networks. Such gatherings usually take place in strict seclusion - only insiders have access. The risk for participants is enormous, both legally and financially.

In Munich, four men are now strongly suspected of regularly organising such poker nights in the north of the city - without the necessary permission. In a raid involving over 80 police officers, the suspects were arrested and a lot of cash was seized.

80 officers, thousands of euros under the sofa and Scrooge McDuck

The Munich police searched the commercial area in question in the north of the city after receiving concrete evidence of a well-organised, illegal poker round. The raid took place shortly after midnight with an impressive 80 officers combing through the building. In an inconspicuous room on the first floor of a business, the officers finally found what appeared at first glance to be a professionally organised poker evening.

• But the humour quickly evaporated when the police found a considerable amount of cash in the five-figure range, some of which was hidden under a sofa. It is reasonable to assume that this sum was part of the poker winnings made in the illegal rounds.
• In addition to the potential earnings, the high-value poker equipment was also seized, which confirms the suspicion of long-term organised gambling. Drinks and sliced fruit on the table suggested that the round was by no means a spontaneous gathering, but part of a well-organised event.
• During the raid, there were four men in the room who were suspected of being the organisers of the poker round. There were also seven other people in an anteroom who are now also being investigated on suspicion of involvement in illegal gambling.

Events with up to 20 people were apparently organised on a regular basis

Based on the investigations so far, the police assume that the poker evenings were organised on a regular basis, with an estimated number of up to 20 participants. These rounds presumably took place every Friday, which indicates that it was a well-established event that was by no means spontaneous or privately organised.

A central feature of such illegal gambling is the limited accessibility. In Munich, too, players could only secure a place at the table for a not inconsiderable sum. According to the investigators, interested parties were able to qualify for a buy-in of 500 euros, so to speak. It remains unclear how people got into the heavily shielded circle of participants and will presumably not be disclosed in detail in order to avoid imitations.

In the current case, it was apparently a clearly organised and profit-oriented round in which the organisers deliberately focused on the illegal nature of the event. The high participation fee of 500 euros underlines the fact that this was not just a leisure activity, but also involved considerable sums of money - a further indication of the highly professional nature of the poker meetings.

The raid was the result of a long-term investigation

The discovery of the illegal poker round was the result of months of meticulous investigative work. As early as June, the police received initial information about the activities, which quickly turned out to be far more extensive than originally assumed. Initially, two men, a 46-year-old and a 35-year-old, were the focus of the investigators from the police department headed by Hans-Peter Chloupek. They were suspected of organising and leading the regular meetings in the north of Munich. The Munich I public prosecutor's office then opened proceedings against both main suspects on suspicion of unauthorised gambling.

In the following months, the investigations led to further people being involved and revealed the involvement of a wider network. It emerged that the poker events were apparently well planned and carried out with a high degree of professionalism, indicating the possible involvement of several individuals or even organised gangs. The surveillance and targeted gathering of information enabled the authorities to paint an increasingly detailed picture of the events and to pinpoint the individuals responsible.

Conclusion

Image source: https://pixabay.com/photos/scrooge-figure-wealth-money-1001336/