Over €100,000 loot

Serious robbery in broad daylight in Vienna casino

The casino in Vienna's Kärntner Straße after the robbery(Bild: APA/GEORG HOCHMUTH)

A brazen robbery by an armed man in a casino in the heart of Vienna on Sunday afternoon: the robber walked unhindered into the jackpot casino and stole more than €100,000!

In broad daylight and completely unhindered (apparently no security staff), a man in dark clothing walked into the casino in Palais Esterházy, the oldest building on the famous Kärntner Straße right in the heart of Vienna, at around 1.20 pm. The supposed gambler turned out to be a robber who walked purposefully to the back of the ground floor.

The perpetrator wore a dark cap and sunglasses
The atmosphere of the Jackpot Casino located there is described by the operators themselves as "relaxed and casual". The perpetrator, wearing a dark green baseball cap and black sunglasses, had a correspondingly easy time.

The casino in Vienna's Kärntner Straße after the robbery(Bild: APA/GEORG HOCHMUTH)

Lightning coup lasted only a few minutes
Once at the back, the suspect pulled out a suspected loaded pistol from his black shoulder bag and threatened the employees standing at the tables. They were so shocked that they watched unresistingly as the suspect opened a cash drawer in the checkout area and helped himself to "play money" amounting to more than one hundred thousand euros. The lightning coup lasted only a few minutes.

Only about an hour after the lightning coup, there was no sign of the robbery in Kärntner Straße.(Bild: Klemens Groh)

Perpetrator was able to hide in the crowd
Although a large police contingent immediately cordoned off the busy Kärntner Straße during the search alert, the perpetrator's trail was lost in the crowd of passers-by and holidaymakers who were taking advantage of the beautiful early summer day to go for a stroll. The State Office of Criminal Investigation has taken over the investigation. After the brazen coup, it was back to business as usual in the Nobelsalon. It was quietly whispered "Tentez votre chance" - i.e. "Try your luck". In any case, there was no security at the entrance. Entry was still unhindered ...