Florida authorities intensified their crackdown on illegal gambling operations with a raid that seized 428 gambling machines and $540,000 in cash across five venues. The Florida Gaming Control Commission reported that several of the confiscated machines were rigged to return less than 20% of wagers, far below the state's regulatory minimum. No arrests were made, but multiple persons of interest were identified.
Key Takeaways
- Florida police seized 428 illegal gambling machines and $540,000 in cash during raids.
- State law requires regulated machines to return at least 85% of wagers, far higher than many unregulated venues.
- Lawmakers and regulators continue to face challenges from offshore platforms and local illegal casinos.
This action follows a series of recent enforcement efforts to stop illegal gaming in the state. Florida statutes allow slots and other games of chance only within tribal casinos and a select few licensed non-tribal facilities.
Legally licensed slots must reach a minimum return-to-player level of 85%, with some games reaching 96%. However, regulatory agencies caution that illegal casinos will often fool gamblers with severely reduced odds.
Although betting at virtual casinos is illegal in Florida, some citizens continue betting on offshore-based websites operating out of state.
Florida County Sheriff arrested for racketeering
Despite repeated enforcement actions, illegal casinos continue to operate openly in parts of Florida. One example is Hot Seats, a Lake County venue that has run for years in a retail plaza near Leesburg.
The recent arrest of Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez has underscored the scale of the problem.
Prosecutors allege Lopez became involved in an illegal gambling enterprise in 2019, later using his elected office to shield operations in exchange for campaign contributions and personal payments.
His wife and several others were also arrested. Court records link the group to Hot Seats, a now-shuttered Kissimmee casino called The Eclipse, and other properties across Central Florida.
The Lopez case reflects how deeply embedded illegal gambling networks can become. Investigators say the group sought to expand into Lake County, an area with a complicated history of tolerance toward gambling.
