Florida Continues to Keep Pressure on Unauthorized Gambling Venues

Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office has led operations that resulted in the seizure of dozens of illegal gambling machines and the shutting down of two illegal businesses that offered unauthorized games of chance. More than 70 Slots Busted as Part of Raids Against Illegal Gambling The businesses were located on Lockwood Ridge Road and were raided a week ago, with the Sheriff’s Office conducting the operation on August 26, in cooperation with the Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC), following search warrants. In conducting the raids, deputies were able to seize 28 machines from one of the unnamed businesses at 3503 N. Lockwood Ridge Road. Another 48 illegal gambling machines were seized from the Surf’s Up at 6394 N. Lockwood Ridge Road. This resulted in a significant haul for law enforcement, which, together with the FGCC, has vowed to continue targeting such operations. Despite the bust, though, illegal gambling venues in Florida continue to proliferate. Police and the commission have consistently operated to dismantle such venues, but they take time to act against them, as law enforcement first needs to build a case, which lets culprits continue operating while an operation is put together. Florida’s laws currently prohibit slot machine play outside of the eight pari-mutuel facilities in Miami-Dade and Broward counties and certain tribal locations, which has left a vacuum that is filled by such clandestine operations that continue to open shop and try to profit. Law enforcement has usually been only a few steps behind, with tips leading to surveillance quickly set up and warrants issued within a month. In an official statement, the police and the FGCC have raised a few points that ordinary Floridans should be on the lookout for. Among those were missing signage of an FGCC license, devices that pay out cash prizes, or do not appear to have any oversight or regulation, as well as devices located outside of the aforementioned counties.