Russian Police Smoke Bomb Moscow Illegal Casino during Shutdown Raid

Earlier this month, Russian law enforcement raided an unlicensed gambling den across from the Foreign Ministry for violating Russian gambling laws. Yelena Perfilova, a police spokesperson described the illegal casino as secreted at the rear of a second-story kitchen in a hotel crosswise from the ministry office. To enter the casino, it was necessary to pass through a concealed door with no handle.

According to Perfilova, roughly eighty casino operators and players were shocked and caught red-handed when profoundly armored, night-camouflage clad troopers tossed in smoke bombs before storming in. The police force "seized 13 poker tables, four roulette wheels, 17 slot-machines, 50,000 gambling chips and 2,000 decks of cards."

After a 2009 gambling law prohibited all wagering in the Russian Federation outside of four out-of-the-way regions, unlawful gambling operations have become plentiful throughout the nation. Last October, under the auspices President Putin, Russia placed more limits on casino gambling, removing casinos from the Rostov Region, a part of the Azov City casino zone.

Even though the Russian government first targeted offline casinos, now Russia also aims at online casinos after closing the brick-and-mortar casinos. In a drastic change from previous prevention politics, now players who wager over the internet can be personally fined between 500 and 2000 rubles.