German authorities raid illegal gambling operation linked to Platincasino

Authorities in the Rhine-Main region have conducted a major raid targeting an illegal online gambling operation. Five suspects are accused of processing approximately 5.86 billion euros in gambling stakes through online platforms without the required German licenses between July 2021 and late 2023.

Investigations by the Frankfurt Public Prosecutor's Office, tax investigators, and police have linked the case to Frankfurt entrepreneur Thomas Daniel Kalman and Platincasino. The suspects face allegations of professional and gang-related unauthorized gambling and aggravated tax evasion. For 2024, the estimated tax damage is approximately 77.6 million euros. During the operation, authorities seized assets worth roughly 82 million euros, including high-value vehicles and frozen accounts.

The case has gained political attention due to reports that an IT company connected to Kalman transferred significant sums to the AfD and also made donations to the FDP. A primary suspect is currently in custody. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.