Austrian Mafia Allegedly Launders Millions Via Online Gambling Establishments
In a significant development, Austrian authorities have dismantled a large-scale online betting operation with suspected ties to the Italian mafia. The operation, which ran two successful betting portals in Austria, was uncovered during a series of four apartment raids that led to the closure of 38 companies and the confiscation of 24 properties worth over €1 billion.
The investigation, initially triggered by tips from the Italian prosecution office in Reggio di Calabria, saw the arrest of a Neapolitan former boxer, T., who held a leading position in the organisation fighting against criminal infiltration in sports. However, it is important to note that there are no recent, publicly available reports detailing a large-scale mafia money laundering operation through online betting in Austria specifically.
The dismantled betting company is believed to form the foundation of the illegal business operated by the organised crime in Austria. T., who is now charged in Italy with "mafia connections," although he is not considered part of a known Italian mafia clan, was employed for a long time by a "large online betting firm" in Austria that was also under investigation by the authorities.
The confiscated sum was intended to be laundered through online betting in Austria, making this the largest amount of mafia money ever secured in the country, according to the BKA Vienna. The BKA considers Austria to be a "safe haven" for the mafiosi, with the BKA only seeing the tip of the iceberg here.
The Italian mafia's continued collaboration with "friendly" companies abroad, especially in money laundering, has once again come to light with this case. European authorities have expressed concerns about the spread of organised crime from Malta across Europe, with the murder of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia in October 2017 by a car bomb in Malta raising concerns about organised crime and money laundering in the gambling hub of Malta.
The Austrian FPOE Interior Minister Herbert Kickl has commented on the ongoing investigation, stating the importance of cross-border cooperation in combating organised crime. The "criminal group" involved in this operation is reportedly composed of three "major" criminal families from southern Italy.
As the investigation continues, it is crucial to monitor updates from Austrian law enforcement agencies, Europol announcements, or investigative journalism focused on Austrian organised crime and online betting regulation for the latest insights into this ongoing saga.
- The sensational news reveals an ongoing investigation into online casinos in Germany, as the dismantled betting company is believed to be a foundation for the illegal activities of the Italian mafia.
- The finance sector, specifically in Germany, has come under scrutiny due to the alleged money laundering operation through online betting, making it a topic of interest under general-news and crime-and-justice categories.
- While sports betting is not directly implicated in this case, the arrest of a former boxer suspected of having mafia connections will undoubtedly raise questions about criminal infiltration in the sports industry, both in Austria and abroad.
