Illegal Gaming Sting Targets Locations Across Florida: Commission

FLORIDA — More than $1 million in assets, including hundreds of slot-style gaming machines, were seized at locations across the state Tuesday as part of an illegal gaming sting operation conducted by the Florida Gaming Control Commission.

The following locations, all under the same ownership, were targeted in the sting:

• Lucky Game Lounge, 4802 Gunn Hwy., Suite 140, Tampa (44 slot machines)
• a location at 2116 34th Street S., St. Petersburg (103 slot machines)
• Players Paradise Arcade, 4900 Linton Blvd., Suite 31-33, Delray Beach (120 slot machines)
• Midway Arcade, 4986 25th Street, Fort Pierce (93 slot machines)

Arrests were made when search warrants were executed at each location, but information about those arrested remains sealed, Eric Carr, director of external affairs, told Patch.

Because the sting spanned several counties and the jurisdictions of two state attorneys, the case falls under the prosecution of state Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office, he added.

Tuesday’s sting was the first major investigation by the newly formed commission, Carr said. “More is coming.”

The FGCC is an independent entity housed within the Department of Legal Affairs and the Office of the Attorney General. It was created under the new gambling compact established with the Seminole Tribe during the 2021 special session.

Before this, gaming complaints were investigated by the state’s Department of Business and Professional Regulations, Carr said. “And we never had an enforcement mechanism, a statewide law enforcement, to focus on that.”

The commission is currently operating under its first year of funding, which started July 1, 2022.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the state has seen “an explosion of what they call ‘adult arcades,’” he said. “An overwhelming majority of them are just illegal gaming operations.”

Under state law, it’s illegal to own a slot machine without a casino license and only two counties — Broward and Miami-Dade — have expanded gaming to allow them. There are only about 12 locations in the state that can legally offer slot machines, Carr said.

“Adult arcades” with slot machines are often illegally operating under the Florida Family Amusement Games Acts, which covers arcades that offer video or physical skill games allowing people to win tickets or tokens to be exchanged for prizes.

“They’re basically saying they’re like a Dave & Buster’s or even a Chuck E. Cheese,” Carr said. “But that’s not what they’re doing at all. It’s how they’re branding themselves, but in reality, they’re using slot machines. … Basically, they’re trying to operate like they’re just a family amusement arcade, but they’re not. The overwhelming majority of ones we’ve identified, when we showed up to do recon, nine times out of 10 they have slot machines.”

Many of these “adult arcades” have names and signage and promote themselves within their communities.

“They’re brazen with it,” he said.

But the owners are careful about who they allow inside, he added. Often, the storefront’s windows are blacked out, the front doors are locked and guests need to be buzzed in, and before they let anyone inside, the owners check them out via security camera at the front door.

Tips about illegal gaming operations can be submitted anonymously via the FGCC website. In addition to investigating complaints, the commission also works to educate residents and visitors about these illegal gambling venues.

“A lot of what we’re trying to do is inform the public that these arcades use predatory practices,” Carr said. “So, basically these illegal gambling operations offer zero consumer protections, zero guarantee of fair play and no recourse if they refuse to pay out (winnings) to them.”

He stressed that the commission isn’t targeting those gambling at these arcades and are focused on the owners of these venues.

“We’re not going after gamblers at these establishments,” he said. “Most of the time, they probably don’t even know they’re doing something illegal.”