Illegal gambling dens

“We are taking the problem very seriously”

After another illegal gambling den was unearthed in Vorarlberg, Pierre Mitternöckler, spokesman for the sports betting industry, is now speaking out. He is calling for the legalization of small-scale gambling in order to remove the breeding ground for illegal establishments.

As reported by the "Krone" newspaper, the police and labor inspectorate recently carried out a concerted operation to inspect several nightclubs in Vorarlberg, during which an illegal gambling den was unearthed. Legal sports betting providers now fear for the reputation of the entire industry. Spokesman Pierre Mitternöckler emphasizes in this context that the sports betting venues in Vorarlberg are the most closely monitored venues in the region: "No serious violations have been detected for years. This shows our commitment to transparency and compliance with guidelines and laws."

According to Mitternöckler, the problem of illegal activities is well known - and partly home-made: "These activities are encouraged by the ban on small-scale gambling in Vorarlberg, among other things. In addition, the strict regulation of sports betting means that some customers switch to illegal offers."

He is therefore calling for the state of Vorarlberg to follow the example of Upper Austria and legalize small-scale gambling. The industry representative argues that this would deprive illegal gambling dens of their livelihood and the state could also generate additional tax revenue.