Criminological measures to counteract corruption offences in the field of illegal gambling

Purpose Despite all the anti-corruption measures and anti-corruption initiatives, people offer or accept bribes without any hesitation. As anywhere in the world, the negative consequences of corruption lead to a reduction in direct investment, increase inequality and poverty, distort and use public investment and reduce public revenues. The purpose of this article is to study the criminological measures to counteract corruption offences in the field of illegal gambling. Design/methodology/approach The methodological basis of the study is the provisions of the theory of knowledge: the laws of dialectical materialism, philosophical categories and scientific principles of cognition of social and legal reality. Findings Although many components of foreign state anti-corruption programmes are quite problematic to apply in modern realities in the Republic of Kazakhstan, according to legal scholars, through gradual implementation into the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan because of the systematic improvement by the state of the content of regulations and responsible implementation of anti-corruption strategies. In this regard, one of the conditions in the fight against corruption is actions aimed at using the best practices of countries that are similar to each other in terms of religion, habits, traditions, ethics and morality. Originality/value Anti-corruption initiatives using information and communication technologies, such as digital public services and e-government, crowdsourcing platforms, tools for exposing, transparency portals, blockchain and artificial intelligence technologies can provide significant assistance in combating manifestations of corruption in the field of illegal gambling on the internet in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The Tragedy of Sex Trafficking: A Study of Vietnamese Women Trafficked into Malaysia for Sex Purposes

Sex trafficking is an abhorrent crime in our contemporary times. Malaysia is currently both a transit and destination country, where women from different countries are trafficked in and out of Malaysia for sex purposes. This article focuses specifically on the trafficking of Vietnamese women into Malaysia. We, the researchers of this paper, interviewed a group of 10 Vietnamese women who were caught in a single police raid at an illegal ‘gambling center’ and placed in a women’s shelter in Kuala Lumpur. While this article explores the tragedy of sex trafficking and the plight of trafficked victims, it also focuses on the politics of the body of the trafficked woman, discussing how the female body has been abused and condemned through manipulation and oppression. This article also reveals how systems of oppression, namely patriarchal cultural practices and gendered discrimination, have helped form a prejudice and suppression of Vietnamese women. Ketu Katrak and Elleke Boehmer’s discussions on the politics of the female body construct the basis of this article’s theoretical framework. At the same time, the literary approach of ‘lived narratives’ offers a unique blend of multiple disciplines of study, including literature, sociology, gender, and politics, to discuss sex trafficking in Malaysia. Overall, this article provides a glimpse into the complex dynamics of sex trafficking in Malaysia.

A comparative analysis of sports gambling in the United States

PurposeThe purpose of the study was to explore differences in demographic, self-concept and fan behavior factors that predict sports fans who bet and those who do not in legal and illegal gambling jurisdictions in the United States (US).Design/methodology/approachSeven hundred and eighty-nine sports fans and bettors from 47 states were surveyed through a partnership with a major media provider in the US. A number of demographic items, theoretically defined factors and fan behaviors were measured, and several two-way MANOVAs with interaction effects were conducted to determine differences between those who gamble and those who do not in legal and illegal jurisdictions.FindingsStatistically significant differences between those who bet and those who do not were found. Bettors look different and come from different backgrounds and locations. Psychographically, they were clearly more narcissistic. They also indicated a higher social identity and self-worth, yet perceived themselves as less worthy members of important social institutions. In general, sports bettors out consumed non-bettors as it relates sports spectatorship. In terms of differences between the groups across legal and illegal states, only a few factors were impacted. Self-worth and personal identity were factors that were found to be different between groups and jurisdictions as well as DFS participation.Originality/valueThe US sports gambling market is expected to grow US$6.5 billion in the next five years, yet very little is known, psychographically, about the US sports bettor. Sports gambling research, especially from a marketing perspective, has primarily been limited to Australia and the United Kingdom. This paper contributes to what we know about sports gambling and the emerging US market. In particular, the results uncovered fundamental trait, demographic and behavioral differences between US sports fans and sports bettors. The findings also provide similar foundational differences and similarities between those who bet in states with legal and illegal gambling.

Green criminological perspectives on dog-fighting as organised masculinities -based animal harm

Dog-fighting was historically a working-class pursuit within predominantly white, working-class subcultures, representing a distinct type of organised animal exploitation. However, contemporary dog-fighting has moved way from its organised pit-based origins to encompass varied forms of organised activity including street dog-fighting in the form of chain fighting or chain rolling, the use of dogs as status or weapon dogs. This paper examines dog-fighting from a green criminological perspective as a distinct form of organised and subcultural crime. Analysis of UK legislation identifies that the specific offence of ‘dog-fighting’ does not exist. Instead, dog-fighting is contained within the ‘animal fighting’ offence, prohibited by provisions of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. However, beyond the actual fight activities (pitting dogs against each other or attacking humans), a range of other offences are associated with dog-fighting including: illegal gambling; attending dog-fighting events; animal welfare harms; and the breeding and selling of dogs for fighting. This paper’s analysis examines contemporary legal perspectives on such activities; also discussing how illegal fieldsports (e.g. dog-fighting and cock-fighting) are dominated by organised crime elements of gambling and distinctly masculine subcultures through which a hierarchy of offending is established and developed. Commensurate with previous research that identifies different offender behaviours and offending within animal crime, this paper concludes that variation exists in the nature of dog-fighting to the extent that a single approach to offenders and offending behaviour is unlikely to be successful.

The Practice of Detecting and Investigating by the Investigative Bodies of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation of Legalization (Laundering) of Proceeds of Crime and Terrorism Financing

The paper examines countering extremism, terrorist crimes, as well as legalization (laundering) of proceeds of crime, as an important element of comprehensive measures undertaken to ensure national security. These crimes constitute global threats, and their suppression is one of the priorities of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation. It should be emphasized that the public danger of legalization (laundering) of proceeds of crime lies in the fact that it undermines the country’s financial system by means of providing the material basis for corruption and terrorism.In modern conditions, the risks of legalization of proceeds of crime, as well as the use of digital currency for illegal or criminal purposes, may arise, for example, when converting digital currency. In view of this, according to the author, it is necessary to establish clear criteria for transactions for which criminal liability for the illegal use of digital currencies may arise, including cases when the digital currency acts as a means of payment for the illegal circulation of weapons, drugs or other items, for the circulation of which criminal liability is established, as well as when illegal gambling or illegal banking are organized. With this in mind, there is a need to introduce criminal liability for illegal circulation of a digital currency and violation of the rules for making transactions with it.One of the main tasks in the field of preventing financing of terrorism and extremism is to counter the spread of radical ideology. To effectively solve this problem, it is required to apply an integrated approach, and, above all, active participation in this process of not only state authorities, but of various institutions of civil society, the scientific community, educational structures, public and religious organizations, as well as the mass media.

“Snet,” Our Man in Miami: Urban Tourism, Illegal Gambling, and the Challenge of a Sinful Southern City, 1941-1944

South Florida developed as an urban gambling resort center that posed both cultural and political challenges to the traditional southern values that animated the state’s approach to regulating vice. This article examines the conflicts over vice tourism in South Florida by focusing on the relationship between Governor Spessard Holland and former Miami Beach Mayor Louis “Snet” Snedigar. Snedigar became Holland’s undercover informant when the governor cracked down on illegal gambling as part of his effort to fund the state’s old-age pension program by taxing bets placed at horse tracks in South Florida. By exploring the entanglement between a conservative southern state and a “liberal” urban outpost, this article illustrates how the southern approach to urban development forestalled the emergence of South Florida as a recreational gambling resort comparable to Las Vegas.

Money Laundering: History, Regulations, and Techniques

The goal of money laundering is to hide the tainted origin of criminal revenue. In this sense, it is a secondary crime that is always connected to another breach of law. These offenses can be different types of theft, trade in illicit goods, as well as other non-violent acts such as tax fraud, bribery, and, nowadays more relevantly, cybercrime. Depending on the size of the unlawful income, criminals may launder on their own or collaborate with other specialists. Especially in cases of large-scale tax evasion, grand corruption, transnational drug trafficking and similar highly organized forms of crime, laundering can entail very complex schemes performed in multiple countries. To describe and analyze this activity, a three-stage model is a widely accepted framework. The placement is the first step, when the illicit money is introduced into the financial system. The layering involves multiple transactions to remove the traces of these funds, while in the last stage criminals attempt to integrate the laundered money into the legal economy through various kinds of investments. Beginning with the 1970s, increasing international cooperation aimed to counter this activity and set standards that were later adapted to national judicial systems. Different types of crime were the focus of such approaches, which also shaped the methods used. During the Prohibition era rum-running and illegal gambling raised the most concern, later the war on drugs, and from the early 2000s the war on terror, and more recently the cryptocurrencies are in focus of anti-money laundering. The financial extent of worldwide money laundering is difficult to estimate with reasonable precision, but it is comparable to national economies in magnitude. Money laundering can have a social as well as financial impact, especially when it helps corrupt politicians to stay in power, decreases tax morale to unfeasible depths or enables organized criminals to take over whole economic sectors and geographic areas.

A COMMUNITY SURVEY ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE (PNP) IN THE PROVINCE OF ALBAY

This paper highlights the trust, respect, safety and security ratings of the community to the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the Province of Albay. It presents the sectoral ratings to PNP programs. The survey utilized a structured interview with 200 sample respondents from Albay coming from different sectors. Male respondents outnumbered female respondents. The majority of the respondents are 41-50 years old, at least high school graduates and are married. The respondents gave the highest net rating on respect, followed by net rating on trust and the lowest net rating on safety and security on the performance of the PNP. Moreover, a high net rating on commitment of support to the identified programs of the PNP was also attained from the respondents. The highest net rating of support is given to the PNP’s anti-illegal drugs program, followed by anti-terrorism, anti-riding in tandem and anti-illegal gambling programs. The ratings of the PNP obtained from the different sectors of the community may be explained by the respondents’ nature of work or professions. Moreover, recommendations given by most of the respondents are focused on safety and security. The negative comments from the respondents may be considered to improve the PNP as an organization.