Many people who ‘just want to take a chance’ in the illegal gambling circuit do not realize the risk they are running. If things go wrong, they can get into debt with serious criminals. “Retrieving money from a debtor often goes differently than in the legal circuit,” says a detective who tells his story anonymously.
Illegal gambling is widespread, according to a detective investigating these gambling tournaments. “It happens every day in several places in our country.” Different types of players are present at these tournaments and that is precisely the danger.
“Players want to stay out of sight of the authorities.”
“Many illegal gamblers think that the rules in casinos are too strict. In illegal tournaments, the stakes are much higher and so are the winnings and losses.”
Illegal gambling is also attractive to people with criminal money, according to the detective. “They like to gamble out of sight of the authorities. If these people mix with other players, it can become life-threatening,” explains the detective.
For example, those other players are thrill seekers who come to an illegal tournament just for the thrill. “They often do not realize that they can meet people from the more serious crime there.”
Where the poker phenomenon backing is prohibited in the casino, this regularly occurs in the illegal circuit. That poses great dangers, according to the detective.
“Anyone who can’t repay for a while, gets a dependency relationship.”
“Players who are short of money to bet can backed be played by other players. If you can’t pay this back, you become dependent on that other person and that can just be a criminal.”
Debt conflicts in the illegal gambling world not only endanger the players, but it can also endanger society. “Retrieving money from a debtor often works differently than in the legal circuit.”
“Local residents are relieved when we invade.”
Local residents are therefore often relieved when the police invade an illegal gambling palace, the detective notes. “Local residents sometimes notice that something is not quite right in their neighborhood and therefore react with relief.”
Yet the police receive few tips about illegal gambling palaces. “We hope that people will want to help us through Meld Misdaad Anoniem. We only use a report if we can guarantee the anonymity of the tipster.”
Earlier this year, the police raided illegal gambling tournaments several times. Ilse Schoenmakers explains what makes these tournaments illegal in this YouTube video. A croupier also talks about his experiences in illegal gambling palaces.
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