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The UK has a large market in coin-operated gambling machines - there are heavily-regulated low-stakes ones in all kinds of non-casino locations and, I think, hi
by rm445 10y ago
The UK has a large market in coin-operated gambling machines - there are heavily-regulated low-stakes ones in all kinds of non-casino locations and, I think, higher-stakes ones in legal betting shops.
A relative who works in the industry told me he sees large numbers of counterfeit pound coins. I would guess counterfeiters might launder coins through machines. Or even, though I've never seen it, sell discount coins directly to gamblers? In any case machine recognition would be a high priority. The machines in question would be relatively unsophisticated ones with a thickness gauge and a 'ski jump' that effectively checks the weight.
- londons_explore 10y agoMany gambling machines have a 70% return. Ie. 70% of money put in is paid out again. One could probably go to a casino with a bag of fake coins, put 50 in each machine, and take any and all winnings. Some machines even pay out winnings in notes.
- jdietrich 10y agoBritain has relatively liberal gambling laws, so you wouldn't need to go to a casino. High-street betting shops can have up to four fixed-odds betting terminals, which offer electronic versions of standard casino games. European (single zero) roulette has a house edge of just 2.7%. FOBT winnings are paid out via a receipt that is redeemed over the counter, so you can use them to convert coins into notes very easily. Gambling winnings are not subject to tax in the UK, so these machines are an extremely attractive money laundering method. Britain has around 9,000 betting shops, so it's easy to move around and avoid suspicion. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/nov/08/gambling-machines-drug-money-laundering-bookies https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/nov/08/gambling-mac...