Irkutsk police shut down a card club that looked legal, but during a search in a back room they found a roulette wheel. The venue operated as a sports poker club, but law enforcement believes illegal gambling was taking place there and is preparing a criminal case for illegal business activity.

Casino in disguise. Irkutsk police shut down a card club, where a roulette wheel was found during a search, the press service of the Irkutsk Region Internal Affairs Directorate reported.
Since the Federal Law banning the gambling business came into force, police have continued raids and inspections of shady establishments in Irkutsk. Most clubs with slot machines have either ceased operating or reclassified themselves. Law enforcement agencies continue their inspections.
The reason for the visit to the “Komsomolets Poker Club” was a statement from a local resident reporting that illegal gambling activity was being conducted here. The card club was located two blocks from the Internal Affairs Directorate building. The establishment had documents permitting sports poker play, the charter of a public organization, and a certificate of registration with the tax authority. At first glance, nothing illegal was apparent. There were tables for various kinds of card games everywhere, a bar, and lounge rooms. However, during the search, police found a roulette wheel in a utility room.
“It, like slot machines, must be licensed. Its use is permitted only within several gaming zones in Russia,” the press service said.
The man who identified himself as the owner of the establishment and, at the same time, the president of the sports poker federation in Irkutsk, in fact has no legal connection to the club. The true owner of the club is still to be identified during the investigation.
The evidence base has been gathered in sufficient volume, the inspectors believe, and this will make it possible to open a criminal case over illegal business activity under Article 171 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (illegal entrepreneurship), which provides for a maximum penalty of arrest for a term of four to six months.