A new report by Virginia Commonwealth University’s Dr Jay S Albanese has detailed the ties between illegal gambling operations and organised crime organisations in the US.
In 2014 alone, 80 operators in 23 states were convicted of running illegal gambling businesses. The report also underscores the critical importance of joint investigations between local, state and federal agencies.
At a roundtable discussion held during this week’s G2E in Las Vegas, the American Gaming Association released the new research, which it said exposes how illegal gambling is used to fund large criminal enterprises involved in racketeering, money laundering, extortion and fraud.
“The ties between illegal gambling and organised crime are undeniable,” said Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the AGA. “This is not a victimless crime. Illegal gambling siphons critical tax revenue from communities and is void of any of the consumer protections provided by regulated gaming.”
“We are proud to be taking a proactive lead on an issue that preys on consumers, funds illegal activities and hurts the highly regulated legal gaming industry.”
The research also notes that many illegal gambling enterprises are large-scale, involving an average of eight to 33 participants. Earlier this year, the AGA assembled an illegal gambling advisory board to provide advice regarding industry efforts to develop tools for law enforcement and to reduce the demand through public awareness, guide partnerships with law enforcement at the local, state, federal and international level, and provide strategies and perspective on necessary steps to plug existing holes in enforcement efforts.
G2E runs at the Sands Expo Center until Thursday.
