Citizens Organized and Conducted Live Gambling Games of 'Poker' Type: Prosecutor's Office

Several cases of illegal gambling activities have been detected in the Republic. Citizens have organized and conducted live gambling games of the 'Poker' type. The prosecutor has submitted the indictments against 13 individuals to the competent court on March 2, April 19, May 17, and 18, 2023.

In particular, the preliminary investigation conducted by the Investigative Committee revealed that S.P. and D.Sh. organized and conducted live 'Poker' type gambling games from December 2020 to February 2021. They rented a private house for this purpose, made agreements with dealers from state-registered and licensed casinos, A.G. and A.B., and sold chips equivalent to 1,000, 5,000, and 25,000 drams for betting. A 5% commission was charged from each winning sum in the form of chips by A.G. and A.B. for the benefit of S.P. and D.Sh., which averaged between 30,000 to 40,000 drams per hour (the games lasted at least 5-6 hours a day).

As a result of the aforementioned criminal activities, the state suffered property damage of an especially large amount totaling 5 billion 500 million drams. By the decision of the prosecutor dated September 8, 2022, public criminal prosecution was initiated against S.P. and D.Sh. under point 2 of part 2 of Article 281 of the Criminal Code (illegal entrepreneurial activity causing especially large property damage) and against A.G. and A.B. under point 2 of part 2 of Article 46-281 (organizing and assisting illegal entrepreneurial activities).

In a separate criminal case, it was found that H.M. rented small and large private rooms in a club on Sayat Nova Avenue in 2021, where tables necessary for card games, including live 'Poker' games, were available. For the same purpose, H.M. periodically rented a private house in the community of Kasakh in the Kotayk region from P.P. for 4,000 drams per hour, where P.P. set up the necessary card tables, cards, and chips for conducting live gambling games, gathered participants, and organized gambling games. H.S. also organized and conducted gambling games in the same address. As a result, the state suffered property damage amounting to 11 billion drams.

By the prosecutor's decision dated March 14, 2023, public criminal prosecution was initiated against H.M. under point 2 of part 2 of Article 281 of the Criminal Code, against P.P. under point 2 of part 2 of Article 46-281, and under point 2 of part 2 of Article 281, against dealers A.D. and A.P. under point 2 of part 2 of Article 46-281, and against H.S. under point 2 of part 2 of Article 281.

In another case, it was established that H.K. regularly organized and conducted 'Poker' type gambling games for profit in a public area of a residential building and in a restaurant room in Vanadzor city during 2021 without state registration and licensing, resulting in property damage of 16 billion 500 million drams to the state. It was also established that A.K. assisted H.K. in organizing and conducting illegal entrepreneurial activities, causing property damage of 5 billion 500 million drams to the state.

By decisions issued by the prosecutor on May 10, 2023, public criminal prosecution was initiated against H.K. under point 1 of part 3 of Article 188 of the Criminal Code (corresponding to point 2 of part 2 of Article 281 of the current Criminal Code), and against A.K. under point 1 of part 3 of Article 38-188 (corresponding to point 2 of part 2 of Article 46-281 for assistance).

In another investigation conducted by the Investigative Committee, it was established that G.T. organized a live 'Poker' game for profit with the assistance of dealer M.M. without state registration and licensing. From March to April 2021, G.T. organized and conducted a live 'Poker' gambling game in his apartment and in a room rented from a cafe on Mashtots Avenue in Yerevan, resulting in property damage of 5 billion 500 million drams to the state. By decisions dated April 27, 2023, public criminal prosecution was initiated against G.T. under point 2 of part 2 of Article 281 of the Criminal Code, and against M.M. under point 2 of part 2 of Article 46-281.

Notice: An accused person is considered innocent until proven guilty by a court ruling that has entered into legal force, in accordance with the procedure established by the Criminal Procedure Code.