In Australia, there are plenty of gambling venues available to players in just about every city. However, this does not seem to be enough for some people. Some individuals want more opportunities to gamble with fewer restrictions and no limits – so, they choose to open up illegal casinos. Recently, Melbourne authorities discovered such a venue, and have raided the property.
This week, an illegal gambling venue in Abbotsford was raided by Melbourne police. Gaming tables, decks of cards, chips and business records were seized during the procedure. It was obvious that an illegal casino was being run, and the police have made sure to shut down the operation. There is no word yet on whether the venue was linked to organized crime, but the presence of drugs suggests that this may be the case.
"Behind the rather drab exterior of this factory there is quite an elaborate entertainment area, which included gaming tables, a bar, a band playing and sexually explicit entertainment," says Inspector Michael Beattie. According to reports, significant amounts of money were being passed through the venue every night.
The operators organized events and got the word out about the venue through various social media and social networking sites. Twenty-six individuals were at the premises when the police raided the gambling den. They will all the changed for being ‘found in a common gaming house.’ The owners will be charged with operating such a venue, a crime which could lead to serious legal repercussions.
Several drugs were also found, including cocaine and marijuana. This could lead to even more severe punishment for the operator and the patrons that were found at the property. The raid was part of a long-term investigation in which local authorities have been searching for illegal gambling operations across the city. Now that this property has been discovered, local police will being searching for potential links to organized crime.
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