Prato authorities uncover six illegal gambling venues in October raids

Authorities in Prato uncovered six illegal gambling venues during a series of raids between 2 and 23 October, according to a statement from the Prato public prosecutor's office. The operation was carried out jointly by the Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM), local police, the Finance Police and the Carabinieri. Officers seized premises, cash and computers, and reported four people in connection with one venue.

The venues ranged from residential apartments and premises used by recreational and cultural associations to commercial spaces normally used for fast-fashion production. The premises were all at the disposal of Chinese nationals, the checks found, while the clientele was mixed and included Italian citizens.

On 2 October officers entered the premises of a cultural association in via Castagnoli, where 30 people were found playing, including mahjong. The premises were placed under preventive seizure, together with more than €3,000 in cash and three ledgers recording bets.

On 9 October officers found a casino in via Torquato Tasso, also run inside a recreational association, fitted with an internal video surveillance system and a video entryphone used to identify customers before allowing entry. Inside were tables set up with cards, chips and tokens, as well as six computers connected to unauthorised online gambling platforms. Officers seized €3,400 and reported four people.

On 13 October officers found two gambling rooms in a complex in via Gora del Pero: one in a property used as offices, where seven people of Asian origin were identified and €30,030 was seized, and the other in the premises of a fast-fashion business. The same day a gambling den was found in via Pistoiese, where eight people were found playing mahjong; about €350 in cash and the property were seized.

The operation ended on 23 October with the discovery of another property used for illegal gambling in via Gradisca, where 10 personal computers used for unauthorised online betting were found and seized.

In an official note, the Prato public prosecutor's office said the results showed how widely illegal gambling is spread in the district. It said enforcement activity needed to be intensified and that the office intended to continue the effort despite the limits of the investigative resources currently available.