11 Arrested in Amsterdam Illegal Gambling Raid

Eleven people have been arrested in Amsterdam after Dutch police conducted a raid on a premises suspected of conducting illegal gambling activities.

The raid was conducted by Amsterdam police in conjunction with the Netherlands' gaming regulator Kansspelautoriteit and took place on May 20th on Nieuwpoortkade Street. The illegal activity was found to be a poker game that was taking place at the time of the raid. Cards, electronic devices, and chips were seized by police. Additionally, two firearms and assorted drugs were confiscated.

Poker is only legal in certain locations at Holland Casino in the country, and underground gambling rings such as this one have been drawing the ire of investigators for a lengthy period of time.

The KSA issued a statement on the raid, which read: "Illegal gambling involves unfair competition with companies that do have a licence and must comply with all kinds of rules, for example to prevent gambling addiction among customers.

"The presence of this kind of illegal gambling activities and narcotics on a business park constitutes an infringement of public order.

"In addition, places where illegal gambling takes place are a breeding ground for crime and these places offer the opportunity to launder criminal money. There is a chance that this will attract people who are not afraid to use violence."