Crackdown on Game Parlours in Capital
to Check Gambling

The move follows the arrest of 19 people for allegedly taking part in gambling games at parlours in some hotels in the capital last week. In all, 190 gambling machines were seized.

The Economy and Planning Department would ensure that the game centres do not use machines for gambling games to get the teenagers’ pocket money which is against the law, Mohamad Al Rumeithi, Director of the Commercial Protection Department, Abu Dhabi Economy and Planning Department, told Khaleej Times recently.

He said the department is paying inspection visits in coordination with the police and armed with warrants from the public prosecution.

Owners of game centres caught breaching the permit conditions would be referred to the prosecution for fraud, swindling and practising an unlawful business.

Al Rumeithi said gambling games are banned in the emirate. They are not allowed in hotels or anywhere. If any game parlour is found running gambling games, its permit will be cancelled and the centre closed down.

Lieutenant-Colonel Ibrahim Hamad Al Hana’i, Head of the Organised Crime Section, Criminal Investigation Department (CID), said owners of the hotels from where gambling machines were seized managed to earn a lot of money by conning gamblers, offering cash and other prizes for winners.

“They had converted legal video game machines to gambling machines. The seized machines were imported by a trading company operating in the country under a false category,” he said.

adel@khaleejtimes.com