Prosecutors: Russian Police Chief Accepted Bribes from Illegal Casinos

(AsiaGameHub) –   A Russian police chief accepted $29,000 in bribes from illegal casino operators, according to prosecutors in Samara.

The Samara District Court ordered law enforcement to detain the suspect until July 4 ahead of a court hearing, as reported by the Russian news outlet Samarskaya Gazeta.

The suspect, identified by the surname Korkin, serves as the deputy head of the Krasnoglinsky District Police Department within the Samara branch of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Prosecutors allege that operators of unlicensed casinos in the southwestern Russian city paid Korkin at least 2.15 million rubles in bribes.

In exchange, Korkin reportedly agreed not to interfere with their illegal gambling operations and promised to redirect future criminal investigations against them.

Prosecutors: Russian Police Chief Provided Advance Notice to Casino Operators

Additionally, Korkin allegedly informed the operators that he would give them “advance notice” of upcoming police inspections.

Prosecutors have indicted Korkin on charges related to the “illegal organization and conduct of gambling,” as well as bribery “on an especially large scale.”

Russian courts have intensified efforts to crack down on illegal casino operators in recent months, many of whom operate gambling services in major urban centers.

Investigators note that these underground gambling establishments often employ advanced security measures to avoid detection. However, gambling addiction rates are increasing, prompting police to report a rise in related crimes.

Moscow plans to address the issue by developing unified guidelines for diagnosing, treating, and preventing gambling addiction, as reported by the Russian media outlet RBC on May 7.

The Ministry of Health announced that starting September 1, the government will offer free rehabilitation programs for individuals suffering from gambling addiction.

These programs will be conducted at state-run drug treatment facilities and psychiatric clinics.

New Addiction Guidelines Under Development

Officials stated that the Serbsky National Medical Research Center of Psychiatry and Addiction, based in Moscow, will collaborate with the Russian Society of Psychiatrists to draft the guidelines.

Currently, Russian medical professionals lack standardized recommendations for treating pathological gambling.

Healthcare providers emphasize the urgent need for updated guidelines and resources.

“In recent years, we have observed a sharp increase in the number of people developing gambling addictions,” said Tatyana Klimenko, director of the National Scientific Center for Addiction.

Experts interviewed by RBC highlighted that the most effective treatment approach remains psychotherapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy and participation in support groups modeled after Gamblers Anonymous.

According to a recent report from the Russian media outlet RG, between 5% and 7% of Russian adults struggle with gambling addiction.

Most affected individuals are male, aged between 18 and 35, officials noted.