Alleged slot skimmers had inside man at Italian watchdog
Police say the insider even returned seized evidence boxes to the suspects for wiping.
The hit
An alleged slot-machine skimming ring in Cosenza, southern Italy, had an insider at the country’s gambling watchdog warning them before inspections, according to Italian authorities. Machines were rigged with hidden circuitry to hide bets from tax collectors. Police executed court-ordered measures against the suspects on Monday.
Why it matters
If proven, the case shows a tax-dodging operation allegedly outran its regulator by buying someone inside it. For bettors, it is a reminder that machine integrity checks can be gamed. For Italy’s gambling watchdog, it raises questions over how seized evidence went missing.
The record
| Suspects targeted | 15, including 2 placed under house arrest |
|---|---|
| Machines allegedly rigged | 145 across Cosenza province |
| Noncustodial penalties | 13 suspects, including gambling-industry bans |
| Earlier asset order (link unconfirmed) | More than €12m ordered seized in November 2025 over unpaid gambling taxes from a gambling-machine business operator |
What happens next
Cosenza prosecutor Vincenzo Capomolla says the investigation remains ongoing; watch for formal charges & whether the ADM official faces separate proceedings.
Sources: Italian Slot Machine Skimming Ring Had an Inside Man at Gambling Watchdog, Police Say
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