Illegal gambling raids net 334 slot machines in Sarasota-Manatee

Authorities in Sarasota and Manatee counties recently seized 334 slot machines and nearly $200,000 in cash from businesses they allege were running illegal gambling sites. The raids were carried out in May through a collaboration between local law enforcement and the Florida Gaming Control Commission.

In Sarasota County, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office and FGCC raided two locations on May 27: Bingo Palace at 2029 S. Tamiami Trail in Venice, where 39 illegal slot machines were found; and an unnamed casino at 4235 Clark Road in Sarasota, where 30 illegal slot machines were located. Deputies recovered $62,376 in cash from the devices, according to a statement.

In Manatee County, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with the FGCC and Homeland Security Investigations, dismantled what authorities called a “multi-location illegal gambling operation." They seized 265 slot machines and more than $120,000 from three sites in early May: 155 slot machines and $78,483 from Spin City Arcade; 61 slot machines and $24,157 from an unnamed arcade; and 49 slot machines and $18,157 from Mike’s Arcade.

“These illegal gambling businesses are not harmless storefront operations. They attract crime, generate illicit cash economies and create serious public safety risks for surrounding communities,” FGCC Director of Gaming Enforcement L. Carl Herold says in the statement. “As illegal gambling activity continues to grow statewide, including in Southwest Florida, the FGCC remains committed to aggressively dismantling these operations before they evolve into larger organized criminal networks.” 

The Florida Legislature recently approved two new enforcement units for the FGCC to strengthen the state’s response to illegal gambling, and one of the units will be located in Sarasota County, providing a regional enforcement presence in Southwest Florida, according to the statement.

“The new Sarasota County-based enforcement unit will help us respond more quickly, build stronger local partnerships and keep the pressure on illegal gambling operators who believe they can profit by ignoring Florida law,” Herold says in the statement.

In Florida, slot machines are only legal at certain Indian tribal facilities and eight pari-mutuel facilities in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, according to the FGCC. Legal slot machines in the Gulf Coast region are at Seminole Hard Rock Tampa and Seminole Casino Immokalee.