Tel Aviv police conducted a raid on an apartment overnight on Thursday, which was reportedly operating as an illegal gambling house run by foreign Chinese residents.
According to a court order, police searched the premises and seized over NIS 1 million in cash.
In addition to the large sum of cash, they confiscated a Glock pistol with ammunition, foreign currency, gambling equipment, two laptops, and other unnamed assault weapons.
Arrest and further inquiry of property ownership
Eight suspects, aged between 40 and 53, all foreign residents from China, were arrested at the scene. They are accused of operating the gambling house illegally and unlawfully possessing the items seized at the scene.
The suspects and the seized evidence have been transferred to the Tel Aviv South Police Station for further processing.
After their arrest, the Ayalon District licensing investigators opened an inquiry, during which they questioned the establishment's owner, a 53-year-old Tel Aviv resident.
Israel's growing gambling problem
Late last year, Hebrew University published a study revealing a growing gambling problem within Israeli society following the October 7 Massacre.
Since the 2023 terror attack, there has been a noticeable increase in Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) scores among surveyed individuals. From April 2022 to the March 2024 data collection, which occurred after October 7th, the PGSI scores of those surveyed have risen significantly.
This trend illustrates that more individuals are turning to gambling as a way to cope with their collective psychological trauma.
Esther Davis and Leo Feierberg Better contributed to this report.