French Authorities Bust $1.2B Illegal Gambling Ring
Summary
French authorities have dismantled what investigators say may be one of the largest online gambling rings in the world, a network that accepted roughly $1.2 billion in bets since it began operating in 2021. The operation ran multiple online casino brands — including Cresus Casino, Casino-Prive, Lucky 8, Jackpot Bob and Olympe Casino — and is accused of money laundering and promoting illegal gambling products. The regulator ANJ found around 98% of players were French residents.
Two men have been arrested and charged with organising prohibited gambling and operating as part of an organised gang. Prosecutors say the case moved quickly after discovery in July 2024, and potential penalties include up to ten years in prison and fines estimated at more than $875,000. The investigation is cross-border, with cooperation from authorities in Malta, Cyprus and more than a dozen European agencies, including the Central Office against Cybercrime (OFAC), the Dutch police and the SCCJ.
Key Points
- The illegal gambling network is estimated to have taken $1.2 billion in bets since 2021.
- Multiple online casino sites were linked, with Cresus Casino among those targeted.
- Activities alleged include money laundering and advertising illegal gambling products; the network reportedly ran a YouTube channel with ~900,000 subscribers.
- About 98% of the player base was reportedly French, prompting ANJ to lead the inquiry.
- Two suspects arrested; charges include organising prohibited gambling and membership of an organised gang, with potential sentences up to 10 years and fines exceeding $875,000.
- Investigation is international — French authorities are coordinating with agencies in Malta, Cyprus and across Europe.
Context and Relevance
This case highlights persistent cross-border risks in the online gambling sector: offshore operators can target domestic players while evading national controls, and large audiences (for example via social channels) amplify reach. For regulators and operators, it underlines growing enforcement cooperation across Europe and the need for vigilant monitoring of affiliate marketing and payment flows. For industry watchers, the scale — $1.2bn in bets — marks this as a major enforcement milestone that could spur further cross-jurisdictional crackdowns.
Why should I read this?
Quick take: this is big. If you work in regulation, compliance, payments or iGaming, the methods, scale and multi-country response here could affect licence rules, AML checks and marketing oversight going forward. If you’re just keeping an eye on industry headlines, we’ve done the heavy lifting — this one’s worth a skim for the main implications.
Source
Source: https://www.gamblingnews.com/news/french-authorities-bust-1-2b-illegal-gambling-ring/