Eight individuals, suspected of manipulating gambling devices in different regions across Bulgaria were recently arrested. Police raids against the fraudulent ring, which consisted of seven men and one woman, were conducted on Sunday.
The Group Hacked Slots, Roulette Games
What’s known so far is that the group manipulated slot machines and roulette table games to their advantage. The raids against the group were conducted by the country’s Economic police with assistance from officers from five different regions, including Plovdiv, Smolyan, Sofia, Stara Zagora and Pleven.
Raids and searches were conducted at a total of 21 properties, including houses, flats, garages and four cars. Law enforcement was able to obtain a range quantity of evidence against the criminal group. A sum of 39,500 leva ($21,800) was seized. Police uncovered and seized documents, as well as electronic devices.
Interestingly, law enforcement seized slot machines that had been disassembled and likely used for the practice of the hacks. Manipulation devices, suspected of being created by the group were also obtained during the searches.
According to prosecutor Dimitar Molev, assigned to the case, the group operated across the country and defrauded land-based casinos. The culprits allegedly used a device that manipulated the outcome of roulette games by allowing the ball to land on a specific number. When it comes to slots, the group developed a special device that enabled it to hack the games’ payment algorithms and generate wins.
The Group Created Devices That Manipulated Casino Games
Some of the members of the fraudulent group reportedly had extensive criminal records. The group was organized well and operated across the country. An individual from Plovdiv is suspected of being the ringleader of the syndicate.
The raids follow a tip filed a few months ago with the police authorities in Stara Zagora. An investigation into the group’s actions was initiated. Members of the fraud ring were tracked for several months ahead of the recent raids. While under investigation, police uncovered that members of the ring that defrauded casinos spent lavishly despite being unemployed.
Two of the members had extensive technical knowledge which enabled them to develop devices used for the unlawful actions. One of the devices contained a roulette ball and a transmitter, which enabled the group to have an unfair advantage in such games.
Reportedly, the group was exploring options to produce and export the device to foreign markets. While some members of the group had technical knowledge, others focused on ensuring the success of the fraudulent scheme. It is suspected that such members of the criminal group engaged with croupiers and casino managers who helped with the completion of the hacks.
