The Smoke Clears, revealing More Than Just Ashes

In the aftermath of the September 2022 fire that engulfed Pizzeria La Bella Vita on Bahnhofstrasse in Dietikon, investigations have unearthed a clandestine operation operating beneath the now-defunct eatery. What began as a probe into the cause of the blaze soon exposed an illegal gambling enterprise that had been running since March 2019.

“Bella-Vita” brand: Illegal Gambling in the Basement

A Serbian woman, now in her early forties, has been convicted for violating federal laws concerning monetary games. The Limmattal/Albis public prosecutor’s office handed down a conditional fine of CHF 12,000 (150 daily rates of CHF 80). This means that she will have to pay the fine if she breaks the law again. She also faces immediate penalties of CHF 2,400 in fines and CHF 800 in processing fees.

While the exact financial gains from the illegal gambling operation remain undetermined, authorities suspect a notable amount of money changed hands between 2019 and 2022.

from Sports Betting to “Devil’s Fire Deluxe”: A Gambler’s Paradise

The gambling den featured four computers offering a variety of illicit games, including enticingly named options like devil’s Fire Deluxe, Golden Cards, Smart Roulette, and Happy Panda. Furthermore, patrons had access to sports betting platforms such as Bet365, Solobet, and Siskowine. According to the prosecution, the operator aimed to increase the frequency and income of her restaurant through these illegal activities, providing unauthorized gambling access to an unknown number of individuals.

The business has since been shut down and removed from the commercial register.