Raids in Abu Dhabi

11/06/2008		Raids in Abu Dhabi
Home History Games News Dictionary		As the worldwide trend of investigating and prosecuting illegal gambling operations seems to be picking up speed, it should be no surprise to hear of another nation renewing their promises to prevent poker and casino crime by more harshly punishing those caught. This week’s contributor to crackdown stories comes from the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi specifically. Inspections have increased dramatically at video game parlours all over the nation, as well as hotels that have been known to host gaming machines. The Khaleej Times reported that last week’s arrests of 19 people and confiscation of 190 gambling and poker machines have inspired officials to eradicate illegal gaming as thoroughly as possible. The majority of the crimes are being sought in hotels, infamous for pushing the limits of their permits for gaming machines by converting them to cash out prizes as well- making them illegal gambling operations. Officials in charge of inspections will be making their rounds with armed police carrying ready warrants to seize if anything should be found. The director of the Commerical Protection Department, Mohamad Al Rumeithi warned businesses that any gaming centers found breaching the rules would be prosecuted on fraud and unlawful business practices charges. For hotels particularily, Al Rumeithi said that illegal gambling operations found could result in more than seizure and fines, that the hotel establishments are vulnerable to being shut down completely. In relation to last week’s successful raid, the head of the Organized Crime Section for the Criminal Investigation Dept, Lieutenant- Colonel Ibrahim Hamad Al Hana’i said, “They had converted legal video game machines into gambling machines. The seized machines were imported by a trading company operating in the country under a false category.”

11/06/2008

Raids in Abu Dhabi

As the worldwide trend of investigating and prosecuting illegal gambling operations seems to be picking up speed, it should be no surprise to hear of another nation renewing their promises to prevent poker and casino crime by more harshly punishing those caught. This week’s contributor to crackdown stories comes from the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi specifically.

Inspections have increased dramatically at video game parlours all over the nation, as well as hotels that have been known to host gaming machines. The Khaleej Times reported that last week’s arrests of 19 people and confiscation of 190 gambling and poker machines have inspired officials to eradicate illegal gaming as thoroughly as possible. The majority of the crimes are being sought in hotels, infamous for pushing the limits of their permits for gaming machines by converting them to cash out prizes as well- making them illegal gambling operations. Officials in charge of inspections will be making their rounds with armed police carrying ready warrants to seize if anything should be found. The director of the Commerical Protection Department, Mohamad Al Rumeithi warned businesses that any gaming centers found breaching the rules would be prosecuted on fraud and unlawful business practices charges. For hotels particularily, Al Rumeithi said that illegal gambling operations found could result in more than seizure and fines, that the hotel establishments are vulnerable to being shut down completely.

In relation to last week’s successful raid, the head of the Organized Crime Section for the Criminal Investigation Dept, Lieutenant- Colonel Ibrahim Hamad Al Hana’i said, “They had converted legal video game machines into gambling machines. The seized machines were imported by a trading company operating in the country under a false category.”