BES exposes gambling mafia in Kyiv: organizers to be tried in court
19 September 2025 08:54
Detectives of the Bureau of Economic Security of Ukraine (BES) together with the Territorial Department of the BES in Kyiv conducted a large-scale special operation that exposed and shut down a network of illegal gambling facilities in different districts of the capital. This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian" with reference to the BES press service.
Details of the operation
According to the pre-trial investigation, illegal gambling halls operated without any permits. The organizers carefully concealed their activities, allowing only verified customers to play, which made it difficult to detect such establishments. Nevertheless, the BES detectives conducted more than 20 simultaneous searches in the premises of the gambling halls and at the residences of the persons involved.
During the searches, law enforcement officers seized:
- Computer equipment used to organize gambling;
- Mobile phones;
- Cash received from players;
- Other material evidence.
Suspicions and legal consequences
The organizer of the network and his accomplices were served a notice of suspicion under Part 3 of Art. 28 and Part 2 of Art. 203-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which provides for liability for illegal organization or conduct of gambling committed by an organized group. The maximum penalty under this article is up to 7 years in prison.
The investigation is currently ongoing. Forensic examinations are being conducted, witnesses are being interrogated, and the full range of people involved in the illegal activities is being identified. Prosecutors of the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine are providing procedural guidance.
Cooperation in the fight against illegal gambling
This operation is part of a broader initiative to combat illegal gambling in Ukraine. Earlier, the BES, the Ministry of Digital Transformation and the state agency Playcity signed an agreement on systemic cooperation. It provides for:
- Development of legislative initiatives to strengthen control over the gambling business;
- Prompt exchange of information between agencies;
- Coordination of efforts to identify and eliminate illegal gambling facilities.
The significance of the operation
Eliminating the network of illegal gambling halls in the capital is an important step in the fight against the shadow economy. Such establishments not only violate the law, but also facilitate money laundering, tax evasion and create social problems, including gambling addiction. The BES emphasizes that it will continue to work actively to identify and stop the activities of such schemes.
