Three people were given prison sentences this morning for running an illegal casino on Reykjavík from 2010 to 2012.
RÚV reports that two men and one woman, who helped run the Poker and Play casino in the east Reykjavík neighbourhood of Skeifan, were found guilty of having engaged in professional gambling and money laundering that generated some 170 million ISK in profits.
As such, they all received prison time. One man was sentenced to 12 months in prison, nine of which are probational, while the other man and the woman were each sentenced to nine months in prison, six of which are probational. They were also sentenced to pay the legal fees for their defense.
Witnesses testified that the casino’s winnings went to the owners and staff. While the defendants contended that the casino was merely a “social club”, data collected showed that money from debit card machines at the location went directly into the pockets of the accused.
Eight were initially arrested in a police raid on the casino in December 2012. Some 550,000 ISK in cash was found on the scene, some of it stashed in a freezer.
Professional gambling is illegal in Iceland, and although attempts have been made to legalise it, the public remains decidedly against the idea.
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