The Delhi Police Crime Branch busted a gambling racket run from a video game parlour. Three persons were arrested in connection with the case.
Police have seized about 10 machines that were used for placing bets. Senior police officials got a tip-off that a gambling racket was being run from a video game parlour in Laxmi Nagar. Police sent in a decoy customer. After he placed a bet, the decoy signalled to a police team waiting nearby. The police raided the place and made the arrests.
The racket was run by Joginder Singh, who bought the machines from Mumbai, police said. The other two accused were identified Sudhir Kumar, from Gujarat, and Joginder’s distant relative, Karambir, a resident of Haryana .
‘‘Joginder had a valid licence for a video game parlour and was running the gambling racket from there. He also said such gambling dens are a common feature in many other cities like Mumbai and Ahmedabad,’’ a senior police official said.
Police said the machines were similar to those used in casinos. Gamblers had to select a number and place a minimum bet of Rs 100.
‘‘The amount multiplied nine times if the disc stopped at the chosen number. There were some other machines where you could place bets on a game of cards,’’ said an official.
Joginder told officials he had been earning between Rs 5 lakh to Rs 6 lakh on an average every month. ‘‘The income multiplied manifold during the festive season like during Diwali, when there was a heavy rush,’’ said the official. Police are now conducting raids to crack down on other such gambling dens in the Capital.