Eilat Police Uncover Sophisticated Tourist Scam Involving Gambling

The Eilat police have exposed a sophisticated illegal gambling operation that systematically targeted tourists on the city's boardwalk. The operation, revealed after a covert investigation culminating in a large-scale enforcement action, was conducted in close cooperation with the Income Tax Authority, the Ministry of Labor, and the Civil Prosecutor's Office.

Investigators discovered that an organized group was behind the "cup games," with members meticulously dividing roles and coordinating their actions. Alongside the table operators, the group employed "plants" who knew where the ball was hidden. These plants would pretend to gamble normally, while others would deliberately choose the wrong cup to lure unsuspecting passersby into the game. This created an illusion of high winning chances, ultimately leading the tourists to lose their money.

The scheme was designed to disguise the fraud as a legitimate game of chance, but in reality, it was a trap to extort money from tourists and visitors in the central commercial and tourist area.

Following the covert phase, police raided the homes of five suspects on Monday morning, arresting them for questioning. Dramatic footage from the raid shows officers using specialized tools to breach an entrance door before storming the apartment to apprehend the suspects and prevent the destruction of evidence.

All five suspects, including a minor, were brought before the Eilat Magistrate's Court, which ordered their detention until October 29, 2026, to allow for further investigation. Police emphasized their continued commitment to combating illegal gambling, citing the financial harm to citizens, associated criminal offenses, and disruption to public order, with further enforcement actions expected.