Police bust gambling operation in Frankfurt, unveiling organized crime ties, massive tax evasion, and substantial revenue accumulation.
Illegal Slot Machine Raid Yields Arrest in Frankfurt
In a significant crackdown on illegal gambling, authorities in Frankfurt am Main conducted a raid on February 14, 2024, seizing over 60 slot machines and making an arrest. The operation, involving around 230 police officers, tax investigators, and city police, targeted a gang accused of operating illegal gambling and evading taxes.
The gang, consisting of 14 individuals, is believed to have been active since 2021 and has generated millions in profits. They are accused of setting up foreign slot machines without approval, tax evasion, and not paying value-added tax and gaming machine tax.
Some of the machines were legally rented but not registered with the city, which is mandatory. A small proportion of the slot machines were correctly registered, but profits were only partially reported to the tax office. Monthly earnings from each illegal device could amount to up to 30,000 euros. Estimates suggest that between 40,000 and 50,000 illegal devices could be set up in Germany.
During the raid, officials found legal gambling offerings in the front areas of some controlled gaming arcades, but unlicensed machines were available in separate back areas. An arrest was made, with a man found in possession of weapons and large quantities of marijuana.
The investigation against the suspects was led by a working group set up in 2017 to control money games. No tampered machines were found on-site, but many devices allowed for the placement of the maximum bet, which is not permitted on slot machines in German gaming halls due to player protection regulations.
Police dogs trained to find cash and data carriers were also present during the operation.
The issue of illegal slot machines in Germany is significant, with expectations that soon half of all slot machines will be illegal due to strict gaming laws pushing players into the black market. The tightening of regulations has contributed to a substantial decline in legal slot machine venues, particularly small bars and generalist venues, where over 15,000 machines have disappeared and more than 9,000 venues have closed compared to pre-pandemic years.
Authorities are responding by refining regulations, enhancing cooperation with the industry, and increasing focus on enforcement and player protection. In November 2025, the Gaming in Germany Conference will bring together operators, regulators, and industry experts to discuss regulatory updates, the growth of the black market, player protection, and compliance. This ongoing cooperation between regulators and the industry signals a commitment to stabilizing and securing the gambling market to reduce illegal operations.
Following the successful raid, Georg Stecker, spokesman for the German Automated Vending Association, called for stricter controls to combat illegal gambling. The association represents companies that operate legal slot machines and has been advocating for tighter regulations to curb the rise of illegal gambling in the country.
References:
- Illegal slot machines: The black market boom
- Gaming in Germany Conference 2025
- Illegal gambling in Germany: A growing challenge
- The decline of legal slot machine venues in Germany
- Despite the tightening of regulations, the black market for online casinos in Germany continues to thrive, with estimates suggesting that between 40,000 and 50,000 illegal devices could be set up.
- In the aftermath of the Frankfurt raid, Georg Stecker, spokesman for the German Automated Vending Association, called for stricter controls to combat illegal gambling, particularly in the casino-and-gambling sector, including casino-games such as slots.
- As the issue of illegal slot machines in general-news persists, crime-and-justice agencies are preparing for the Gaming in Germany Conference 2025, aiming to discuss regulatory updates, the growth of the black market, player protection, and compliance to reduce illegal operations.
