Italian prosecutors order measures against 15 in AWP machine tampering probe
Prosecutors in Cosenza ordered precautionary measures against 15 individuals implicated in manipulating AWP machines, resulting in suspected tax evasion.
Prosecutors in Cosenza have ordered precautionary measures against 15 individuals implicated in manipulating amusement with prize (AWP) machines, Italy’s popular category of slot-style devices, resulting in suspected tax evasion and corruption.
A judge at the Cozenza court issued preliminary rulings including two house arrests, six non-custodial restrictions and a one-year ban on operating gaming activities for seven individuals. At this stage, the inquiry remains preliminary and none of the accused have yet faced trial.
Alleged organised criminal association
Preliminary evidence indicated the involvement of an organised criminal association that reportedly included the owner of a distribution company and a local official within ADM, Italy’s gaming regulator. The ADM official allegedly leaked sensitive information about inspection dates and targets in return for payments.
The investigation was initiated following ADM’s central gaming controls detecting “striking anomalies” in telematic data from numerous gaming machines.
Seizure of 145 machines
Extensive on-site inspections in commercial premises throughout the Cosenza province led to the seizure of 145 machines suspected of containing a concealed second, tampered circuit board. Authorities confiscated approximately €80,000 ($89,188) in cash from these devices.
The scheme allegedly involved the installation of illicit cloned circuit boards alongside the authorised ADM-connected boards and the use of remote wireless controls, modified cabling, timers, or monitor switches to route gameplay to the illegal boards.
Separate scratchcard fraud case
In a separate case, authorities seized over €25 million in assets from five former employees of a gaming concessionaire involved in a Gratta e Vinci scratchcards fraud. Prosecutors allege that the five individuals exploited privileged system access to identify winning tickets in advance. The concessionaire company itself faced no accusations in the scratchcards fraud case.
Sources
- ADM (Italy) · Regulator · primary source ·
- iGaming Business · Industry media ·
Spotted a mistake? Report an error — see our corrections policy.