French Poker Pro Grégoire Auzoux Arrested for Running Illegal Online Casino and Offshore Gambling Operations

French poker star Grégoire Auzoux has been arrested in France for allegedly operating an illegal online casino that generated substantial revenue.

• Grégoire Auzoux accused of a significant illegal gambling operation.
• Crésus Casino allegedly generated nearly €1B in revenue.
• Investigation led to asset seizures amidst a money laundering probe.

Professional poker player Grégoire Auzoux has been arrested in France for allegedly operating an unlicensed offshore online casino that predominantly targeted French customers, raking in hundreds of millions of euros in revenue. Auzoux is among two French nationals implicated in overseeing the operations of Crésus Casino and several affiliated brands, such as Jackpot Bob, Lucky 8, casino-privé, and Olympecasino. These illicit activities were reportedly based in Curaçao and Cyprus, and prosecutors reveal that they generated nearly one billion euros in revenue.

Auzoux boasts a notable presence in high-stakes poker circles, having amassed over $3.3 million in live tournament earnings. This includes a whopping $1.05 million victory at a 2023 Triton event and an impressive $223,500 win at the Onyx Super High Roller Series held in Cyprus this summer, as recorded in the Hendon Mob database.

Challenges Faced by Customers

Authorities were alerted to the casino’s existence when several victims reported their inability to withdraw winnings. Prosecutors noted that the identified customers reported a total loss exceeding €201,755 (approximately US$234K).

Crésus Casino is accused of evading French authorities by frequently changing its domain name, resurfacing under new mirror sites after its primary site, Cresuscasino.com, was blacklisted by the French gambling authority, ANJ.

Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau highlighted that over 98{6993caa5fb1aab1de46f5b43a835411dda8badf3aa9c6b754938f587e1f52746} of the casino’s activities targeted French residents, accruing more than one million monthly visits.

As part of judicial collaboration with the Republic of Cyprus, authorities executed raids and froze bank accounts connected to one of the accused individuals residing in Cyprus.

Charges of Organized Crime and Money Laundering

The two individuals have faced charges in Paris for organizing illegal gambling, functioning as a part of an organized crime syndicate, illegally offering online gaming, and money laundering. Notably, money laundering carries a potential prison sentence of up to 10 years, along with a hefty fine of €750K (approximately US$875K) or half of the laundered asset’s value. Currently, both men remain in pre-trial detention.

In recent years, France has aggressively intensified its efforts to combat unlicensed online gaming, with the ANJ implementing court-ordered blocks and issuing public warnings aimed at redirecting players to operate within the regulated market. Last year, the agency warned players about the inherent risks associated with unlicensed sites, which include payment fraud and inadequate dispute protections.

Conclusion: The arrest of Grégoire Auzoux serves as a significant turn in the ongoing battle against illegal online gambling in France. As authorities continue to crack down on unregulated operations, it highlights the necessity for players to remain vigilant and aware of the gambling environments they engage with.