The Hellenic Police arrested 20 people in Thessaloniki, 18 of whom are alleged members of the criminal organisation.
According to a police statement, the ring is alleged to have run illegal gambling games at internet cafes, defrauding players with specialist software that allowed it to control winnings.
A total of 20 people were arrested during a coordinated police operation carried out on the morning of Thursday 15 October 2026 in various parts of Thessaloniki by the Northern Greece Sub-Directorate for Combating Organised Crime, with assistance from officers of the Northern Greece Sub-Directorate for Criminal Investigations.
Eighteen are alleged to have been members of the criminal organisation, including its leaders, while two were arrested as customers of the establishments.
A case file was also compiled against 14 other people.
Illegal software and controlled access
According to the police investigation, the organisation is alleged to have been formed in 2013 or earlier, with two leading members, aged 55 and 51, coordinating its activities.
Its members ran licensed premises, mainly internet cafes, in Thessaloniki and Kavala, where illegal gambling games were played.
A key role was allegedly played by special illegal software, which allowed the odds to be adjusted and the players who would win to be selected, bypassing the games’ random-number mechanism.
In this way, players were allegedly misled about their true chances of winning.
To avoid detection, special areas had been set up at the premises, with access controlled and individuals acting as “lookouts” keeping watch.
An electronic emergency button (panic button) had also been installed, allowing the displays on computer screens to be changed immediately when police were spotted.
The investigation found that the 55-year-old allegedly had the central coordinating role, overseeing the operation of the premises, the recruitment of new members and the management of the profits.
The 68-year-old allegedly managed the staff, transported the daily takings and provided technical support.
The 51-year-old woman allegedly facilitated the movement and concealment of money through her bank accounts, while a 40-year-old allegedly managed the illegal software remotely and could, on instructions, select specific players to receive winnings.
The investigation also uncovered the alleged use of front men, who appeared as owners of companies linked to the premises, to conceal the true ownership and distance the leaders from the illegal activity.
Illicit gain of more than €1 million
A parallel financial investigation found that revenue from the alleged illegal activity was channelled through specific individuals, bank accounts and gambling accounts to conceal its origin.
The total illicit financial gain is estimated to exceed €1,000,000.
The Authority for Combating Money Laundering from Criminal Activities was informed about the case and proceeded, as appropriate, to freeze the bank and betting accounts of the alleged leaders.
What was seized during the operation
Searches of homes, premises and vehicles, as well as searches of the suspects, resulted in the seizure of, among other things:
€61,460 and US$700.
11 gold sovereigns.
Four private cars.
28 mobile phones and numerous SIM cards.
21 cameras and four recording systems.
61 computer system units, 22 hard drives and 22 monitors, along with keyboards and mice.
Three laptops, tablets, jewellery, digital storage devices, handwritten notes and documents.
Those arrested were taken before the competent prosecuting authority.
The two arrested as customers and patrons were released on the oral order of the prosecutor responsible for criminal prosecutions.
The case involves, as applicable, charges of participation in a criminal organisation, felony fraud, gambling-law violations, money laundering and breaches of personal data protection legislation.