Published on: June 7, 2026, at 09:07h.
Updated on: June 7, 2026, at 09:07h.
- Czech authorities apprehend suspect following the murder of Tony Bargig in Prague
- Bargig previously served time for managing 15 illegal gambling establishments
- Current casino affiliations in Prague remain ambiguous despite searches in corporate records
The assassination of an Israeli businessman dubbed “the King of Slots” has sparked intrigue, as reported by Czech police following his murder in Prague on Wednesday. As of Friday, police have detained a suspect but have not released further information.
Tony Bargig, previously prosecuted in Israel in 2020 for overseeing a network of illegal gaming venues, was discovered deceased in the Žižkov district of Prague, prompting an immediate murder inquiry.
Reports from Israeli media characterized Bargig as operating multiple gambling ventures in Prague, where he had resided for several years. However, none were able to specify a particular casino, and Casino.org could not uncover concrete evidence of his gambling activities in Czech corporate databases.
In Israel, where betting is prohibited, Bargig faced convictions for running 15 underground casinos nationwide.
Each establishment housed approximately six to eight slot machines, generating tens of millions of shekels, as per sources in Israeli media. Investigators suggested that his enterprise may have yielded between ₪25 million (US$8.5 million) and ₪100 million (US$34 million).
Linked to Law Enforcement
The breadth of the prosecution was notably significant for an illegal gambling case, with the original charges reportedly citing 366 witnesses, including dealers, players, and casino managers.
One aspect drawing public interest was the fact that his spouse, Nurit Bargig, was an active police officer during his investigation.
This situation prompted enough controversy that police intelligence personnel lodged internal complaints, asserting that having an officer married to a known gambling figure posed evident risks.
Additionally, Bargig was the offspring of respected Israeli soccer coach Nino Bargig, who managed several clubs throughout his career, including Hapoel Rishon Lezion, Hapoel Be’er Sheva, and Hapoel Jerusalem. Notably, Tony Bargig also had a background as a soccer player.
Plea Agreement
Bargig ultimately entered into a plea arrangement and received a 15-month prison sentence in May 2020, agreeing to relinquish ₪1 million (US$340,000) and pay a fine of ₪350,000 (US$119,000).
He subsequently contested demands from the Israeli Tax Authority, which sought tens of millions of shekels in alleged gambling proceeds.
His recent passing in Prague has drawn parallels in Israeli media to the 2002 murder of Felix Abutbul (1951–2002), a known figure in Israeli organized crime, often called “Netanya’s Gambling King.”
This incident incited a period of retaliatory violence among Israeli criminal organizations in the early 2000s.