Updates on the alleged money laundering case at Giochi del Titano: it has been confirmed that the company’s general manager, Salvatore Caronia, is under house arrest. Seven people are under investigation: five from within the company, including its deputy director, plus a businessman and his partner.
According to the prosecution, cash generated through a circuit of fake invoices arrived in Rovereta and then left in the form of checks issued for slot machine winnings: almost €7.5 million between 2019 and 2026.
The investigation originated with the Ravenna Public Prosecutor’s Office, on suspicion of complicity in money laundering, and the San Marino court ordered a search of the public company’s headquarters. According to information obtained by Insider, the search was carried out by the Guardia di Rocca under an international letters rogatory request.
The scheme described by prosecutors unfolded in two stages.
In the Bergamo area, the businessman allegedly collected large sums of cash — the proceeds of wire transfers linked to non-existent transactions, routed through four shell companies traceable to him.
The money was then allegedly driven to San Marino to be converted, with the alleged help of insiders, into Giochi del Titano checks presented as gambling winnings and deposited in the bank.
The alleged mechanism relies on simple mathematics. Slot machines pay back on average between 92 and 95 percent of what is wagered: losing a small percentage would have been the price paid to launder the rest.
San Marino’s Financial Intelligence Agency has traced transactions totaling €7,493,421.67, against income declared by the businessman ranging between €5,000 and €38,000.
Investigators believe some employees reserved specific machines for the couple, keeping other customers away. Wiretaps are said to reveal prior arrangements over the checks, as well as complaints from the businessman about an alleged 20 percent commission.
Caronia is accused of direct involvement: he allegedly pressured officials at Banca Agricola Commerciale not to request the suspect’s income declaration, threatening to sever ties between the company and the bank.
The Law Commissioners have ordered the seizure of the suspects’ electronic devices as well as ten slot machines.
Motherboards and servers will be examined to determine whether computer fraud was also involved — that is, whether software had been tampered with to force otherwise improbable payouts.
The case carries significant weight given the figures involved.
Giochi del Titano is among the most profitable state-owned companies: in 2025 it posted revenues of over €31.5 million and roughly €8.5 million in net profit. The State became its sole owner after buying out, in installments, the 24 percent stake previously held by the Chamber of Commerce — a deal worth around €8 million, set to conclude in 2027. Caronia has headed the gaming hall since 2009.
The investigation is still ongoing: all those involved are presumed innocent until a final verdict is reached.
Insider remains available to those concerned for replies or clarifications.
