{"id":726979,"date":"2026-06-10T07:18:46","date_gmt":"2026-06-10T07:18:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/726979\/"},"modified":"2026-06-10T07:18:46","modified_gmt":"2026-06-10T07:18:46","slug":"the-dark-side-of-the-world-cup-the-criminals-came-to-the-door-and-said-the-boy-owed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/726979\/","title":{"rendered":"The dark side of the World Cup: \u2018The criminals came to the door and said the boy owed"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cEvery smartphone is a whole casino.\u201d That is how Chief Superintendent Avi Ayash, head of investigations for Israel Police\u2019s Northern District, describes what he sees as one of the most troubling side effects of the FIFA World Cup, which begins next week. <\/p>\n

He is warning that the tournament could trigger a surge in online sports betting among teenagers, a phenomenon that authorities say has already reached widespread and dangerous levels.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe way adults perceive gambling is completely different from the reality of gambling among our youth,\u201d Ayash told ynet. \u201cEvery smartphone is a whole casino, and any teenager can instantly connect to countless gambling platforms around the world. Anyone who still imagines an illegal casino as a smoky apartment or warehouse should understand that today a teenager can sit in a well-kept bedroom or with friends and wager thousands of shekels on virtually anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ayash said the problem extends far beyond Israel. \u201cThis is a global phenomenon. We learn about it through conversations with police officials around the world, and law enforcement agencies everywhere are dealing with it.\u201d<\/p>\n

In Israel, the term \u201cbettim\u201d has become shorthand for the country\u2019s sprawling underground sports betting and online casino industry. The activity, which is largely conducted online, includes wagering on almost every sport imaginable \u2014 from major international leagues to youth competitions and obscure lower-tier leagues. It also includes virtual casino games such as roulette and blackjack, as well as in-game betting markets on events such as the first yellow card, the number of corner kicks or the identity of the next goal scorer.<\/p>\n

Under Israeli law, sports betting is permitted only through the state-regulated Sports Betting Board, commonly known as Toto-Winner. Any betting conducted outside that framework is illegal.<\/p>\n

The underground betting industry operates through a network of \u201cagents.\u201d Rather than entering credit card information on a website, bettors are connected with local criminals, often through Telegram. These agents provide usernames and passwords for gambling platforms and extend virtual lines of credit.<\/p>\n

\"\u05e1\u05e0"\u05e6Chief Superintendent Avi AyashPhoto: Israel Police<\/p>\n

Settlements are typically made later through cash payments, couriers, cryptocurrency transfers or disguised money-exchange services.<\/p>\n

According to police and law enforcement estimates, Israel\u2019s illegal betting industry generates approximately 20 billion shekels ($4.8 billion) annually. Tens of thousands of Israelis, many of them young adults and teenagers, are believed to participate regularly.<\/p>\n

Despite the risks of becoming entangled with criminal organizations, many bettors prefer underground platforms because they offer higher payouts than regulated gambling, greater anonymity and a virtually unlimited range of betting options, including live wagering unavailable through legal channels.<\/p>\n

To illustrate the scale of the problem, Ayash recounted a case from his time with the Northern District\u2019s major crimes unit.<\/p>\n

A senior officer in Israel\u2019s Prison Service asked to meet him privately. \u201cHe told me that criminals had come to his home the night before,\u201d Ayash said. \u201cThey knocked on the door and asked whether his 17-year-old son lived there because he owed them money.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The father initially assumed there had been a mistake. \u201cHe told them his son was an honors student, a computer nerd who barely left the house and spent most of his time studying,\u201d Ayash recalled.<\/p>\n

The criminals insisted otherwise. \u201cThey said the boy owed them thousands of shekels from online gambling,\u201d Ayash said.<\/p>\n

The men even offered documentation \u2014 printed records or screenshots from their betting system \u2014 to prove the debt.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat was remarkable was that even after they realized they were speaking to a Prison Service officer, they were not intimidated,\u201d Ayash said. \u201cThey didn\u2019t leave. They told him, \u2018Let\u2019s see how we can solve this. We came in peace.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

The father asked for time to think and then confronted his son, who admitted that he had been gambling online on various sporting events and had repeatedly lost money, accumulating a substantial debt.<\/p>\n

Ayash advised him to file a police complaint and pursue the matter through the criminal justice system. At the same time, he urged him to investigate where his son was getting the money. \u201cThat is one of the most important things parents need to understand,\u201d he said. \u201cWhere is the money coming from?\u201d<\/p>\n

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Ayash said many teenagers fail to grasp the consequences of online gambling because the money feels abstract. \u201cA teenager wagers $100 on a smartphone or computer. He never touches physical cash, so it feels distant, almost unreal,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Investigators who examined gambling sites found that all required users to meet minimum age requirements. \u201cIn practice, the teenagers lie about their age to gain access,\u201d Ayash said. \u201cThey become easy prey. They get excited quickly and become addicted easily.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ayash said he is particularly concerned that the upcoming World Cup will drive a sharp increase in online betting activity among minors. \u201cI am very, very worried,\u201d he said. \u201cI instructed our district cybercrime unit to prepare for the issue and study the relevant websites and platforms so we are not surprised by the scope of the phenomenon.\u201d<\/p>\n

Based on his experience, major sporting events generate heightened interest and significantly increase participation in illegal betting. \u201cThis phenomenon cuts across all sectors of society,\u201d he said. \u201cIt affects wealthy families and poorer families. It affects Jews and Arabs. In the last case I handled, ultra-Orthodox men in northern Israel were involved in horse-racing bets and suffered major losses.\u201d<\/p>\n

As long as teenagers can keep paying their debts, authorities often remain unaware of the problem. \u201cWe enter the picture only when they can no longer pay and complaints start reaching the police,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

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Ayash said teenagers typically fund gambling through personal savings, allowances or money their parents do not realize they are spending. <\/p>\n

A more troubling scenario occurs when gambling sites extend credit. \u201cThe problem is that these sites have representatives in Israel who make sure the debts are collected,\u201d he said. \u201cThat is when complaints begin flowing to us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some cases involve staggering sums. \u201cAs I recall, we have seen teenagers accumulate debts of around 20,000 shekels,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

In one case, a 16\u00bd-year-old boy turned to criminal activity to repay what he owed. \u201cHe started carrying out criminal jobs, including drug deliveries,\u201d Ayash said. \u201cUltimately, these gambling operations can easily drag good teenagers into the criminal underworld.\u201d<\/p>\n

His message to parents, he said, is straightforward. \u201cPay attention to what your children are doing. Monitor their smartphone use and keep track of their finances,\u201d he said. \u201cIn some cases, parents had no idea where their child was getting money to buy luxury brands. The money came from gambling winnings.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ayash added that, based on the complaints he has encountered, the victims have all been boys. \u201cSo far, I have not encountered a single girl involved in cases like these,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

Superintendent Gal Farkash, an officer in the investigations and intelligence division of the Tiberias police and a specialist on youth gambling, is also warning that the World Cup could significantly expand the phenomenon.<\/p>\n

\u201cBased on past experience, I believe the World Cup will be a major trigger for youth gambling,\u201d Farkash told ynet. \u201cThe combination of summer break and the World Cup could draw many teenagers into soccer-related betting. I believe illegal soccer betting among minors could increase by hundreds of percent.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\u05e8\u05e4"\u05e7Superintendent Gal Farkash Photo: Israel Police<\/p>\n

According to Farkash, every major global sporting event brings a noticeable rise in youth gambling activity. \u201cWhenever there is a global sporting event such as the World Cup, we see a significant increase in teenage gambling,\u201d he said. \u201cIllegal betting platforms are scattered across the internet and accessible to any teenager with a smartphone.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said police encounter three main categories of illegal betting operations: international platforms run through overseas websites, nationwide networks operating in Israel and smaller local operations. \u201cWe focus first on the local networks and try to prevent criminals from enriching themselves through illegal gambling,\u201d he said. \u201cAt the same time, we conduct educational outreach and lectures in schools.\u201d<\/p>\n

Farkash recalled a case handled by the Jordan Valley police station involving a teenager who wagered tens of thousands of shekels on soccer matches. \u201cHe plunged his parents into massive debt, and one of them withdrew his entire pension savings to pay off the debt,\u201d Farkash said.<\/p>\n

During the investigation, the father told police: \u201cI\u2019m telling you, I wiped out my pension. Something like 500,000 to 600,000 shekels. All of this nonsense came from debts he accumulated through illegal betting.\u201d<\/p>\n

Farkash said that, in his experience, children as young as 12 and 13 become involved in illegal gambling. \u201cWhen parents hear about it from us, they are helpless,\u201d he said. \u201cThey realize it has to be stopped before the entire family collapses.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Police have handled cases in which teenagers stole money from their parents to finance gambling habits. \u201cThere was one case involving several thousand shekels,\u201d he said. \u201cUntil we contacted the parents, they simply could not believe their son was stealing money from them.\u201d<\/p>\n

In some instances, authorities have filed criminal charges against minors who stole from family members to fund gambling. <\/p>\n

Farkash noted that identifying the operators behind illegal gambling networks is often difficult. \u201cIn most cases, the person who approaches the family to collect the debt is just a front man whose job is to collect money for the gambling operation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The combination of the World Cup and summer vacation, he added, is particularly concerning. \u201cIt\u2019s important to emphasize that minors are prohibited from gambling anywhere,\u201d he said. \u201cThese gambling operations finance organized crime. I\u2019ve known this phenomenon for decades, since I was a child. The difference today is the smartphone, which has completely changed the landscape and made gambling more accessible than ever.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chief Superintendent Eran Mazuz, commander of the Migdal HaEmek police station, said illegal betting among teenagers cuts across all sectors of Israeli society. \u201cFrom my experience commanding police stations in Zichron Yaakov, Kafr Kanna, Kfar Saba and now Migdal HaEmek, I can say that illegal sports betting among teenagers crosses every sector and socioeconomic group,\u201d he said. \u201cIf several years ago we saw it mainly among adults, today the age is dropping and we are seeing it among 12- and 13-year-olds.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\u05e1\u05e0"\u05e6Chief Superintendent Eran MazuzPhoto: Israel Police<\/p>\n

According to Mazuz, debt collectors often assess a teenager\u2019s family background before extending credit. \u201cThey check the family\u2019s financial situation and ability to repay,\u201d he said. \u201cThey start with small amounts and eventually reach the parents. In the end, they tell the parents the child\u2019s life is in danger, leaving them with no choice but to open their wallets.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mazuz described the betting industry as operating much like an organized crime syndicate. \u201cIt functions hierarchically like a criminal organization,\u201d he said. \u201cThe debt collectors are often young adults, and sometimes teenagers the same age as the gamblers themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said he has seen families torn apart by gambling debts. \u201cI\u2019ve seen homes destroyed and families shattered. Even police officers\u2019 children have become entangled in these schemes,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Mazuz urged parents to focus on prevention. \u201cI recommend starting with conversations, education and supervision \u2014 knowing who your children spend time with and what they do at night,\u201d he said. \u201cOnce it begins, stop it immediately. If necessary, seek professional help and report it to the police.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said unpaid debts can quickly escalate into violence. \u201cI\u2019ve encountered cases where teenagers were assaulted because they failed to pay,\u201d he said. \u201cThe first stage is threats against the child. The second is violent collection efforts \u2014 shaking the teenager down and sending a harsh message. The third stage is pressure on the parents. The fourth stage involves a stun grenade or setting a family car on fire. At that point, you are dealing with the clear methods of an organized crime group.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Police cadet Moshe Levy, a former head of the youth division at the Tiberias police station and a specialist in juvenile crime, also warned that the World Cup will pose a major challenge for youth investigators. \u201cFor many minors, the focus will be less on soccer itself and more on the outcomes of the bets they placed beforehand,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

One case he investigated involved a teenager who began gambling with small allowances from his parents. \u201cHe moved on to stealing his parents\u2019 credit cards and even taking items from the family home and selling them to cover his betting losses,\u201d Levy said.<\/p>\n

According to Levy, gambling debts often become a source of serious violence among teenagers. \u201cParents sit across from me in the interrogation room and ask how their children managed to gamble when they are below the legal age,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Police are seeing the phenomenon begin as early as age 13. \u201cIt\u2019s a very slippery slope,\u201d Levy said. \u201cIt\u2019s addictive. It starts with a small allowance and can end with debts of tens of thousands of shekels.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf a teenager once spent pocket money on a chocolate bar, today he may prefer to put it on an Argentina match,\u201d he added. \u201cStories about big winnings draw more and more children into gambling because nobody publicizes the losers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Levy also noted that some businesses illegally sell betting slips to minors despite legal prohibitions. \u201cUnfortunately, some business owners are tempted to do it,\u201d he said. \u201cThat only makes the problem worse.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u201cEvery smartphone is a whole casino.\u201d That is how Chief Superintendent Avi Ayash, head of investigations for Israel…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":726980,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[49,48,84,393,394],"class_list":["post-726979","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-mental-health","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-health","tag-mental-health","tag-mentalhealth"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/726979","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=726979"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/726979\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/726980"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=726979"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=726979"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=726979"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}