Naples, illegal betting network dismantled: Casalesi clan raked in millions from unregistered slot machines and unauthorised websites
A sophisticated network of illegal betting and unauthorised gambling was dismantled by the Guardia di Finanza in Naples in a large-scale operation, carried out under the mandate of the . At the centre of the investigation is the Casalesi clan, specifically the Russo-Schiavone faction, which was running a flourishing illicit operation involving bars, public establishments and online platforms lacking ADM (Customs and Monopolies Agency) authorisation, with an estimated turnover of over €9 million over the past three years.
Guardia di Finanza operation: 9 arrests and illegal slot machines in bars
The raid, coordinated by the Economic and Financial Police Unit of Naples, led to the execution of nine precautionary measures issued by the Investigating Magistrate of the Naples Court: six individuals were remanded in custody, two placed under house arrest, and one banned from residing in the provinces of Naples and Caserta. Those under investigation face charges including criminal conspiracy, unauthorised provision of gambling and betting services, and fraudulent transfer of assets – all offences aggravated by the mafia method.
Authorities uncovered an extensive system operating across numerous commercial premises in the Aversa area, where videopoker and slot machines were installed without connection to ADM’s online control system. In parallel, illegal betting websites lacking Italian licences were used to collect wagers on a regular basis.
14 websites and 13,000 bets in three months: the clan’s digital gambling empire
One of the most striking elements of the investigation was the extensive use of 14 unauthorised gambling websites, through which nearly 13,000 illegal bets were placed in just three months, as revealed by passive telematic interception of data traffic.
Agency operators hosting these terminals were paid a 2% commission on the volume of unlawful wagers, while the remainder of the profits went directly into the clan’s coffers. 바카라er betting accounts were also created and managed through parallel channels, sometimes involving officially registered agencies which covertly participated in the illegal circuit.
Suspicious lifestyle and financial investigations
The investigation was further substantiated by statements from cooperating witnesses, some of whom were former high-ranking members of the clan. Among the red flags identified by the Guardia di Finanza was the extravagant lifestyle of one suspect’s family, clearly inconsistent with their declared income. The suspect’s wife, a recipient of state welfare (citizenship income), was found to be frequenting exclusive beauty salons and had undergone cosmetic surgery in a private clinic in Rome’s affluent Parioli district – expenditures far beyond the means of her reported finances.
A direct hit to the Camorra’s financial engine in the gambling sector
This operation once again highlights how illegal gambling remains a primary source of revenue for organised crime in the Campania region. Through sophisticated schemes, offline terminals, and unregulated online platforms, the Casalesi clan had built a hidden criminal empire, now dismantled thanks to the joint efforts of the judiciary and law enforcement authorities.
This article was first published in Italian on 22 July 2025.
All roads lead to Rome, 03–06 November 2025. SiGMA Central Europe takes centre stage at the Fiera Roma, uniting 30,000 delegates, 1,200 exhibitors, and 700+ speakers. This is where legacies are built, and the future takes shape. Connect with the innovators’ driving change.
