By Ben Mulvey • Published: 19 Sep 2019 • 18:06
Illegal gambling hotspot in Valencia Credit: Wikipedia
THE Marina Alta area, and some parts of the Marina Baixa, have been dubbed the “epicentre of illegal gambling” in the Valencian Community.
A regulatory body of the regional police carried out 23,258 inspections in different gambling establishments over the last year, resulting in 4,084 sanctions for a variety of reasons.
The main focus of the inspections is to uncover illegal gambling and underground casinos at casinos, gaming halls and bingo halls across the region. Many of these establishments open at night with gambling tables and roulette wheels that are not regulated. Much of the investigation was focused on Benidorm where there are numerous establishments that accept unregulated bets on horse racing and other sports by Spanish and expat residents alike.
There is also some concern about these establishments being available for underage gamblers. Police are working to regulate gambling halls, not just in terms of the games, but also to ensure that the buildings meet the necessary regulations.
CRACKDOWN: The regional police have been conducting inspections in thousands of establishments in the Marina Alta area to curtail illegal gambling.
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