Israel Police arrested 100 people in raids on two underground gambling establishments on HaMekaleph Street in Haifa, N12 News reported on Friday. Officers found gamblers at poker tables and slot machines and seized approximately 15 computer hard drives, security cameras, cash, and various documents.
Israel Police arrest 100 at underground gambling dens in Haifa
Israel Police arrested 100 people in raids on two underground gambling establishments on HaMekaleph Street in Haifa, N12 News reported on Friday. Officers found gamblers at poker tables and slot machines and seized approximately 15 computer hard drives, security cameras, cash, and various documents.
Administrative proceedings have begun to close the two gambling locations, and those detained were taken for questioning at the Zvulon police station, according to the report.
In June, police raided a Tel Aviv apartment allegedly being used as an illegal gambling establishment operated by Chinese foreign residents. Court filings state officers seized approximately NIS 1 million in cash, a Glock pistol and ammunition, foreign currency, gambling equipment, two laptops, and other weapons. Eight Chinese foreign residents between the ages of 40 and 53 were arrested on suspicion of operating an illegal gambling establishment and other offenses.
The raids come amid broader concerns about gambling in Israel. A Hebrew University study published last September found that problematic gambling increased among some Israelis following the October 7 attack and the war that followed. Researchers compared gambling behavior recorded before October 7 with data collected in the months after the attack, examining scores on the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) between April 2022 and March 2024.
The study found PGSI scores increased significantly over that period, with the rise particularly pronounced among men who had difficulty managing their emotions. Researchers concluded that participants who struggled with emotional regulation were more likely to develop gambling problems, suggesting gambling may have become a coping mechanism for some Israelis dealing with the psychological effects of the October 7 attack and the subsequent war.
- The source does not state how many of the 100 arrested were subsequently charged or released after questioning.
- The source does not state whether any weapons or additional contraband were found at the Haifa establishments specifically, as distinct from the earlier Tel Aviv raid.
- The source does not state the identities or nationalities of those arrested in the Haifa raids.
- The source does not state the Hebrew University study's sample size, methodology details, or peer-review status.
- The source does not state what 'other weapons' were seized in the Tel Aviv raid beyond the Glock pistol.
Read the original at The Jerusalem Post