Two & Eight -- 28

[smudger]

Visited a bar in Alvor couple of years ago which we had frequently visited. Had changed hands and wasn't our type of pub. Had noticed guy in corner running a book for the horse racing on TV. A few days after we visited, pub was raided and "bookie", barstaff and the 3 customers placing bets were all arrested. Last time we passed it, still closed.

[sunman]

the shambles of the way this seems to have all been handled is that we probably have a rival local bar owner staring out of his empty bar & envying the place across the road or square with a few people in it; he rats them out and they get busted for the Bingo, which we have to say that with a €1 entry fee to win packets of biscuits is just fun, not remotely could be called gambling; the local GNR go totally over the top, arrest & fine everyone in sight including innocent people in the bar.

the result of it all?

does the man across the square get any more people in his bar? no

do lots of people read the paper & watch the TV and decide not to come to The Algarve for fear of having a quiet drink and being arrested? yes

they should make a big show of a full apology to the arrested people, give them some compensation, a free meal out with lots of publicity & suchlike; this is a really big own goal and hardly the right timing

[cumbria sue]

couldn't agree more, well said sunman

[EMM]

It was not Bingo for biscuits but bingo for booze. The prizes were shown on PT tv when the Portuguese bar owner was interviewed
The bar owners knew the law as it forms part of their lisence so they are far from innocent.

Yes the customers should receive an apology and their fines refunded but lets be honest this is Portugal and the law is the law, stupid as the application was in this case.

[R.Wethereyet]

This statement has been produced regarding the situation.

Statement Concerning Gambling in Portugal

This statement has been produced after discussions between the GNR, Turismo do Algarve and Associação Safe Communities Algarve
following the detention of 28 persons at the Yorkshire Tavern, Albufeira on 23rd June 2013 for illegal gambling , in
order to:- clarify why the action was taken, and To help create awareness for visitors to Portugal regarding the law concerning
gambling in a public place.
Introduction
Portugal in line with certain other countries has strict gambling laws and these are rigorously enforced

To be able to conduct gambling activities in a public place a licence must be obtained such asin the case of casinos.
The law states that all thos present in an illegal gambling establishment have committed
an offence. This could be hosting illegal gambling, participating in illegal gambling or being
present when such activities are taking place. In the case of the latter one does not
have to be actively participating. This law is similar to that in so me other countries.
Gambling includes bingo or any game of chance where there is payment to participate
and where a prize is involved - this must be licensed.

The incident It is understood that complaints had been made to the Mayor of Albufeira, regarding
allegations of illegal gambling.
The GNR investigated this, and as a result of this it was decided in accordance with the law to take enforcement action.
Warning action was not considered appropriate by the GNR as bar owners are aware of the licence
conditions under which they operate the bar, which does not include permission to conduct gambling activities.
In this case the manner in which the activity was conducted reinforced this view.
The vast majority of bar owners comply with this law.
In this case people paid to take part in bingo which provided a regular source of income to the bar.
This illegal source of income cannot be declared for tax purposes. Other bars in the area were clearly at a disadvantage as they complied with the law, and the
operation of bingo therefore
generated additional business and revenue for the bar concerned .
The GNR operation was carried out strictly in accordance with the law, and the GNR are
not empowered to exercise discretion as to who should be detained as the law is clear on this point.
GNR have stated that the action taken was part of ongoing police action to crack down on illegal gambling in the Algarve and that they acted upon “information reported by
anonymous citizens.
Those detained were taken to Albufeira police station for questioning, identified, made official suspects and notified to appear in court. They were not held in cells and were
assisted in obtaining their identity documents.
“They were given a notification to appear in court and were then free to go.”
Those detained appeared in court charged with various offences as described above. In this case the conviction for those being present or participating
did not result in a criminal record.
Other issues
The media coverage in the UK Sun newspaper is misleading as the picture of the police is
not that of the GNR and has absolutely no relevance to this case.
Clarification
on the legality of other forms of gambling such as “charity quiz nights” etc where proceeds go to registered charities
is being sought.
It is appreciated that the incident has led to some surprise and concern to some people including those from overseas and steps
will be taken to create greater awareness particularly for visitors concerning gambling laws relevant to gambling in public places
in Portugal


So the Mayor was being contacted by the whistleblowers. What a crock of ****

[sunman]

It was not Bingo for biscuits but bingo for booze. The prizes were shown on PT tv when the Portuguese bar owner was interviewed
The bar owners knew the law as it forms part of their lisence so they are far from innocent.

Yes the customers should receive an apology and their fines refunded but lets be honest this is Portugal and the law is the law, stupid as the application was in this case.

the reports I've read say the arrests were made after the first prizes were given out, which was for a line, and the prize was a tin of biscuits and a bar of chocolate, have you read different?

the accounts from the innocent bystanders say that they were ordered by the Judge to make a charitable donation of €150, failure to pay up would lead to a quadrupling of the fine and prison!! no trial, no legal representation, just judgement.

these poor people were intimidated and threatened which is why they paid up; a pity somebody didn't make a stand and say no, I would have done.

[James Faro]

Under English law Ignorantia juris non excusat(ignorance of the law is no excuse) and that piece of jurisprudence is held throughout most parts of the world.

If the owner knew that she was doing wrong and was aware of similar raids/inspections then she should have advised her customers of the consequences of what they getting involved with. However, they may have walked out if they thought they were committing an offence. With hindsight they would have left Mo Farah in the slow lane if they knew they were going to end up several hundred euros lighter!

If she did not know(unlikely) then I am afraid she will have to bear the brunt of the law. But, it is unfair that the customers get a fine, a criminal record and the worry that goes with it. They thought they were going to be entertained in a harmless fun activity and not end up on Portugal's Most Wanted!

However, there is one silver lining from this whole debacle. If the GNR are concerned about alleged illegal gambling and go to great lengths to raid, invade get the courts to have these people behind a dock in a parade, then it gives the impression they are cracking down on any illegal acitivity. Sometimes the thought of police presence in a resort is reassuring! Well, that is one school of thought!

I would think now the GNR would have thought that this raid was more bother than its worth.

[e-richard]

...it is unfair that the customers get a fine, a criminal record and the worry that goes with it. They thought they were going to be entertained in a harmless fun activity and not end up on Portugal's Most Wanted!

The above quote is typical of the writing in the UK sleaze press and its ability to twist reality.
If you read the statement quoted by R.Wethereyet, there are at least 3 untruths in this snippet alone.

[James Faro]

So you are happy ex-pats/holidaymakers are arrested, taken to court and fined? Yes or no!

So I take it, if a group of holidaymakers in your villa rent out do some gambling you will call the GNR immediately?

[EMM]

PT tv interviewed the Portuguese bar owner and the prizes for the night in question were shown, bottles of sprirts, port etc.
Perhaps these were prizes for later in the night.

[HampshireRich]

To be quite honest, if you play bingo on holiday in the Algarve you deserve to be arrested - and probably deported as well

[cumbria sue]

PT tv interviewed the Portuguese bar owner and the prizes for the night in question were shown, bottles of sprirts, port etc.
Perhaps these were prizes for later in the night.

did they actually say they were prizes or were they in the background/on the bar waiting to be sold to customers

[R.Wethereyet]

Gambling in Portugal is an everyday occurrence.

Whenever I drive anywhere I'm gambling on the fact that I don't get get killed by tourists driving the wrong way on a one way street, or on them swinging open their hire car door and putting a dent into the side of my car, or putting their bags on the boot and scratching the paintwork. All of these have happened to me in the last week

And I pay thousands a year in motor related costs and taxes for this pleasure.

[joeysoap]

was it a fine or wasn't it....

the accounts from the innocent bystanders say that they were ordered by the Judge to make a charitable donation of €150, failure to pay up would lead to a quadrupling of the fine and prison!! no trial, no legal representation, just judgement.

Those detained appeared in court charged with various offences as described above. In this case the conviction for those being present or participating
did not result in a criminal record.

so why the threat of iail......

[EMM]

No they were prizes, do not believe everything you read in the UK press and from the recently formed " Epats can do no wrong Party of the Algarve.".
THere are probably red faces all round within the Portuguese legal establishment and a happy bar owner who wll now be one of the most popular in that part of Albufeira.
Its an area we have never visited and now have yet another reason to avoid it.