Vienna's quail farm hides illegal gambling ring with slot machines
An illegal gambling operation has been uncovered at a quail farm in Vienna's Penzing district. Authorities seized five slot machines during an ice raids in late January, revealing a hidden setup with remote monitoring and cash payouts. Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer and State Secretary Barbara Eibinger-Miedl have since warned of the growing risks tied to such activities.
The raid exposed a sophisticated operation inside the quail farm. The slot machines were connected to a video camera, allowing an unseen operator to oversee play and handle payouts. This discovery follows a broader trend of illegal gambling in Austria, with cases increasingly reported in private spaces like flats, backrooms, and even garages.
Over the past five years, media coverage of such incidents has surged. In 2023, Vienna police confiscated €50,000 and arrested 20 people in a high-profile raid. A year later, Salzburg authorities dismantled a poker ring operating out of a garage. Public criticism of weak enforcement has grown, with outlets like Kronen Zeitung and ORF calling for stricter penalties.
Operators caught running illegal gambling now face fines of up to €150,000. Officials emphasise that these penalties aim to curb the spread of unregulated betting, which has expanded beyond traditional venues into unexpected locations.
The quail farm raid highlights the persistence of illegal gambling in unconventional settings. With stricter fines now in place, authorities are stepping up efforts to dismantle such operations. The case also reflects wider concerns about enforcement gaps and the need for tighter oversight in Austria's gambling sector.
