Police raid two underground gambling establishments in Haifa, arrest 100 - report

Israel Police conducted raids on two underground gambling establishments in Haifa, arresting 100 individuals, reports N12 News. The locations were discovered on HaMekaleph Street and contained poker tables, slot machines, and various gaming equipment. Authorities seized 15 computer hard drives, security cameras, cash, and multiple documents during the operation. The gambling sites were subsequently targeted for administrative closure.

Earlier this year, police raided a Tel Aviv apartment used to run an illegal gambling operation organized by Chinese foreign residents. Approximately NIS 1 million in cash, a Glock pistol, ammunition, foreign currency, gambling equipment, two laptops, and other weapons were seized during that search. Eight Chinese foreign residents between the ages of 40 and 53 were arrested on suspicion of operating an illicit gambling establishment and additional offenses.

The latest raid comes amid growing concerns about gambling in Israel. A Hebrew University study published in September indicated that problematic gambling increased among certain Israelis following the October 7 massacre and ensuing conflict. Researchers compared pre-October 7 gambling behavior with data collected afterward, finding a significant rise in problematic gambling scores measured by the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) among participants between April 2022 and March 2024.

Notably, emotionally-challenged individuals were more prone to gambling issues, suggesting that the psychological impact of October 7 and the war may have led some Israelis to turn to gambling as a coping mechanism.