San Antonio Raids Reveal Illegal Pokémon Card Gambling Ring

Authorities in San Antonio, Texas, busted seven suspected illegal gambling operations that allegedly paid winners in Pokémon cards, sports memorabilia, and silver instead of cash. The coordinated raids led to 23 detentions and the confiscation of about 500 to 600 gaming machines. Illegal Gambling Network Used Trading Cards to Bypass Texas Laws The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office conducted the searches early Wednesday, November 4, before sunrise. Sheriff Javier Salazar said investigators believe the businesses that were targeted were linked through a larger operation called 777. Thirteen people are expected to be charged with illegal gambling, felony drug possession, and organized criminal activity. Some have outstanding warrants for misdemeanors as well, as reported by News 4 San Antonio. The businesses were located in several spots on the north and west sides of San Antonio. One, the Silver Room Game Room, was located in a shopping center along West Avenue. Other targeted locations were at Wurzbach Road, Callaghan Road, Broadway, Clower, Dollarhide, and Culebra Road. Investigators think the operators set up alternative payment arrangements to get around Texas restrictions on gambling prizes. In one place, customers were said to have been handed valuable Pokémon or sports trading cards rather than cash directly. The collectibles were reportedly bought by a neighboring business, enabling winners to turn their prizes into cash. Authorities identified the arrangement as an attempt to disguise gambling proceeds, Salazar said. Some places have been found by investigators to be giving out tiny silver coins for customers to exchange for cash. San Antonio Raids Expose Drug and Cash Operations at Gambling Dens Texas law permits some amusement machines to dispense merchandise, but prizes are limited in value. The use of valuable collectibles in lieu of cash, however, does not automatically make the transaction eligible for this exemption. The legality of gaming machines also hinges on the way operators design the games and pay out rewards. The investigation also revealed other suspected criminal activity. Two women were said to have been found with felony quantities of methamphetamine and heroin at the Broadway premises. Authorities also seized large amounts of cash from a location thought to be a financial center for the network. Investigators believe the money was to be shared between the other houses. Salazar warned that these businesses can put surrounding communities at risk of robberies, violence, and fire hazards associated with unsafe electrical installations. He also voiced concern for older customers and those on fixed incomes, who might be particularly susceptible to gambling losses. Authorities had previously targeted a business linked to the 777 name, the sheriff said. However, the operators are said to have resumed operations by opening up elsewhere. The San Antonio crackdown is part of a broader effort to crack down on illegal gambling in Texas. Galveston County authorities served 21 search and arrest warrants on October 29 on suspected gambling operations in Galveston, Texas City and La Marque. That investigation led to the seizure of more than $2 million in cash and other assets and four people being charged with organized criminal activity.