The Austrian financial authorities, in their ongoing fight against fraudulent activities, confiscated and destroyed 123 unlawful gaming devices in the Upper Austrian and Salzburg regions.
In Salzburg, the locations included an online store, a hair removal salon, a pub, and a pancake delivery service. Many of the machines seized in both areas were used in disguised locations for illicit gambling operations.
In Upper Austria, law enforcement officials reported that operators employed various tactics to hinder police entry, such as reinforcing doors with metal plates to prevent access.
Police also discovered that some games on the slot machines were disguised as legal “skill games” instead of illegal gambling devices.
Officials were able to recover more than €17,000 ($14,654/€17,699) in cash when they emptied the slot machines before destroying them, which was placed under police control.
For each illegal gambling machine seized, authorities can impose a penalty of €4,000 per machine.
“The regular focus checks of the financial police are targeting illegal gambling and making the business increasingly unappealing for criminal operators,” stated Finance Minister Magnus Brunner.
We will continue to strive diligently to ensure the well-being of our players.”
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