Prosecutors in Cosenza have launched an investigation into a criminal operation allegedly manipulating online gaming machines in the province. On Monday, the public prosecutor’s office disclosed that precautionary measures have been imposed on 15 suspects tied to the tampering of amusement with prize (AWP) machines, a popular slot-style device in Italy, in connection with suspected tax evasion and corruption.
The preliminary ruling from a judge at the Cozenza court followed the efforts of the gaming regulator, Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM). The measures include two house arrest orders, six non-custodial restrictions, and a one-year prohibition on gaming activities for seven individuals.
At this point, the investigation is still in its early stages, and none of the accused individuals have yet been tried.
Preliminary findings suggest that an organized criminal group was involved, allegedly comprising the owner of a distribution company and a local ADM official. This ADM officer is accused of leaking classified information regarding inspection schedules and targets, reportedly for monetary incentives. This information enabled the group to hide illegal setups and facilitated the recovery, reformatting, and redistribution of confiscated gaming components.
The criminal network is said to have implemented complex modifications to cabling and activation systems to sustain their illegal activities while avoiding detection.
The inquiry was prompted by ADM’s central gaming controls, which identified "striking anomalies" in the telematic data of numerous gaming machines. Following this, extensive inspections across commercial properties in the Cosenza area resulted in the seizure of 145 machines suspected of housing concealed second circuit boards. Authorities also confiscated around €80,000 ($89,188) in cash from these devices.
Cyber forensic analysis of seized electronic devices, including smartphones and tablets, revealed a scheme for diverting stakes from the monitoring network. The operation allegedly utilized illicit cloned circuit boards alongside authorized ADM boards. Moreover, remote wireless controls, altered cabling, timers, and monitor switches were reportedly employed to reroute gameplay to the illegal setups, allowing for the collection of wagers without registration.
This investigation coincides with a prior crackdown on former employees implicated in fraud related to Gratta e Vinci scratchcards. In this earlier case, authorities confiscated over €25 million in assets from five former staff members of a gaming concessionaire. While the concessionaire itself was not charged, prosecutors claim these individuals misused insider access to identify winning tickets ahead of time, thereby undermining the game's intended randomness.
In a related note, the trade body EGP-FIPE cautioned the Senate in June about a "regulatory deadlock" within the gambling sector that could exacerbate unregulated gaming activities across the nation.
