The Food and Economic Safety Authority (ASAE) has opened four criminal proceedings for illegal gambling in the municipalities of Maia, Matosinhos, Amarante and Felgueiras, in the district of Porto, following an operation in the last week of April, it was announced today.
According to a statement sent to the press today, ASAE reported that “seven economic operators with restaurant and beverage activities were inspected, and the existence of concealed rooms was verified in some establishments, where equipment was operating as gambling machines”.
According to the ASAE, four “criminal proceedings were opened for the crime of operating games of chance outside legally authorized premises”.
An official source from the authority told Lusa that the criminal cases relate to activities in the municipalities of Maia, Matosinhos, Amarante and Felgueiras, all in the district of Porto.
“Three machines were seized for illegal gambling, a computer and a tablet for exploiting territorial sports betting and two thermal printers, as well as 517 euros in cash,” the authorities said in a statement.
According to ASAE, the value of the seizure amounts to 8,837.00 euros, and the operation also led to the “immediate suspension of the activity of three economic operators due to a lack of hygiene requirements, with the respective administrative offense proceedings”.
The authority states that “it will continue to carry out enforcement actions, within the scope of its powers, throughout the national territory, in favor of healthy and fair competition between economic operators, in order to safeguard food safety and the public health of consumers”.
