LAKE COUNTY, Fla. – Five people are in custody after an armed robbery was reported this week at what the Lake County Sheriff’s Office identifies as “Hot Seats Casino.”
A News 6 visit to the business on Saturday revealed confusion over the establishment’s actual name and brought new questions about why the casino appears to be operating more than a year after it was raided during a countywide crackdown on illegal gambling.
According to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, three masked men entered the business on State Road 19 just after midnight Friday.
Deputies said one suspect pointed a gun at a security guard and demanded phones and cash from employees and guests inside. The group fled the scene, but after a brief pursuit and perimeter search, four men and a woman were taken into custody, investigators said.
When News 6 visited the location listed in the arrest affidavit Saturday afternoon, a woman at the door said the business is called “Hot Spot,” not “Hot Seats.” She told us the owner would be by “later,” but did not provide a specific time. After initially indicating our crew could enter, she closed the door and did not respond to additional knocks.
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The address has been on law enforcement’s radar before. In 2024, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office — working with the Florida Gambling Control Commission and several local agencies — raided multiple suspected illegal gambling houses across the county. The operation resulted in the collection of more than 170 gaming machines and over $200,000 in cash. Records show the S.R. 19 location was among the sites involved in that enforcement action.
The continued operation of the business, and the conflicting names associated with it, have raised concerns about oversight and licensing.
News 6 has reached out to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, county commissioners, and the Florida Gambling Control Commission for clarification on the business’s legal status and whether further action is planned. As of Saturday evening, none had responded.
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