Illegal gambling den found

Joan Collins THE National Police Force last Tuesday visited a bar in Magalluf (in Calvia), thought to promote “illegal” gambling. They found inside a “wide range” of devices and a “large” sum of money for use in this “clandestine” activity, according to police sources yesterday. The sources said that this bar had organised sports betting, such as horse racing, football, rugby, and many others. They added that the bar also accepted any level of bet, small or large. The activities organised were based of the same “legal” and “widespread” activities in Great Britain and, it seems, this was well known in the area. The sources went on to say that the bar didn't have any sort of gaming licence. It was also found that the most favoured and practised activity was accepting sporting bets using the odds established by the official bookmakers in Great Britain. These odds could be seen by the clients on the satellite television screens, which were situated both inside the “small” bar and outside on its terrace. In all the bar had six television screens. At the same time, the police said, “illegal” games of chance were offered in conjunction with normal bar services. These were carried out by three people who accepted bets for games of chance for which the odds usually favour the “house”. According to the police, the illegal games were played principally among British tourists who, after filling out a two-part betting slip, took it to the “bookmakers” and paid their money. The bookmakers recorded the bet manually, keeping the top part of the slip and returning the lower part to the client. This was the client's proof of the bet, so that he could claim his winnings if his bet was successful. Officers from the National Police Force seconded to the Gaming Control division of the Balearic Provincial Police Force, together with civil servants from the Balearic Ministry of the Interior were those who took part in this action and those who will indict the establishment for an infringement of the law.