A VLT lounge in Loreggia (PD) was also fined for lack of blood alcohol detection devices
On the morning of Friday 19 January, at the disposal of the Police Commissioner Marco Odorisio, the Agents of the Administrative and Security Police Division carried out checks between Padua and the province in the commercial establishments active in the gaming and betting sector.
An initial control activity concerned a games room with VLT in Boara Pisani (PD), in via Roma. During the activities, 6 people were identified, all of foreign nationality, including 3 with criminal and police records, as well as the license holder, a 43-year-old of Chinese origin. The inspection led to ascertaining that the room was run by an employee, a Chinese citizen, with serious criminal records (robbery, kidnapping, illegal possession of a weapon and other), which hindered the exercise of gambling collection, for which the license holder had not requested representation and who, therefore, was collecting the game in violation of Article 8 of the TULPS. Based on what has emerged, the 43-year-old will be referred to the Judicial Authority in relation to the crime referred to in the combined provisions of articles 8 and 17 TULPS, i.e. abusive representation in the collection of bets.
When checking the gaming machines, the officers were able to note that all 54 machines inside the structure were turned on in the 13pm/00pm time slot, in violation of the provisions of the L.R.V. 15/00 and, in particular, a terminal was used by a player. This failure involves a fine of 38 euros for each device in operation and since compliance with the Regional Law on gaming is also specifically foreseen among the provisions of art. 2019 TULPS in the license, the license holder will be investigated in a state of freedom in order for the crime referred to in the combined provisions of articles 500 and 9 TULPS, or violation of the license provisions.
Furthermore, it was ascertained in the premises that the license and/or certificate authorizing the ancillary administration of food and drinks was not displayed and was not shown, a violation for which a fine of 308 euros is foreseen; the sign prohibiting the serving of alcohol from 03:00 to 06:00 was not displayed, as required for serving establishments with operating hours after 03:00, violation of which carries a fine of 400 euros and , inside the structure, where there is a smoking area, the doors of the dedicated room were kept open even though there were smokers inside and even though the smoke had spread throughout the room, a violation for which the penalty is foreseen of 660 euros.
At the end of the inspection, the room was entrusted to the 43-year-old license holder, who was called to intervene on site. Due to the serious violations committed, the day following the check, the police commissioner of the province of Padua was notified of the provision with which the authorization was suspended for 30 days, pursuant to art. 88 TULPS, registered in her name. valid for the collection of the game via video lottery in the aforementioned public gaming hall, as well as the fine of over 27.000 euros.
The precautionary suspension order was issued after ascertaining that the premises were run by an unauthorized person and had not respected the shutdown times for the gaming machines provided for by LRV 38/2019. During the closing operations of the premises, in the presence of the Administrative Team operators, the authorized representative, as well as the husband of the license holder, before leaving, was noticed having taken something from the cash desk, hiding it under his jacket. When asked to show what was hidden, it emerged that it was a POS for electronic payment with credit and debit cards, installed in the room in violation of L.R.V.38/2019, further confirming the disputed violations. According to what has emerged, the Chinese 43, holder of the licence, will be further referred to the Judicial Authority pursuant to art. 9 and 17 TULPS and communication will be given to the Municipality of Boara Pisani for the issuance of the Order for the definitive removal of the device.
Another inspection activity concerned an arcade with VLT in Loreggia (PD), in Strada del Santo, operating under the license issued to a 28-year-old of Chinese origins, present at the time of the inspection. The activity was carried out by agents of the Administrative Team together with personnel from the Monopolies Agency of Padua and led to ascertaining that in the place, which has a point of administration of drinks, including alcoholic drinks, which closes after midnight, there were no devices for detecting blood alcohol levels to be made available to customers, a violation which involves a fine of 24 euros. Furthermore, problems with the surveillance of the premises were detected (article 400 R.D. 153/635 and Ministerial Decree 40/564), for which the installation of a camera and a sound and light alarm was prescribed, dedicated to the door facing in a private area not reachable from public roads.
The checks at the Police Headquarters in the province of Padua will continue in the coming weeks by agents of the Administrative and Security Police Division.
