TITUSVILLE, Fla. – Forty illegal gambling operations were taken down as part of a “first-of-its-kind” sting in Central Florida, including Brevard, Flagler and Volusia counties, according to the Florida attorney general.
Attorney General James Uthmeier made the announcement Friday in Titusville about the largest ever “sweeping takedown of unlawful casino gambling operations.” Uthmeier was joined by Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey, Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly, Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood and Florida Gaming Control Commission Chair Julie Brown.
“Right now, we’re at 525 machines, almost $200,000 in cash seized and that number is only going up as these collections continue,” Uthmeier said. “... The game is over.”
[VIDEO BELOW: Betting on America’s sports gambling boom]
The Florida attorney general described the illegal gambling sites as not “bingo or UNO at the dining room table,” but they had large machines and big casino games.
“If you are operating one of these facilities or you’re thinking about operating one, this is your warning. Don’t roll the dice. Don’t test your luck. Do not bet against the house on this one. I promise you, it is not going to work out well for you,” he said.
Uthmeier called this “just the beginning” in terms of taking down these illegal gambling operations.
[VIDEO BELOW: Suspended Fla. sheriff gambling case]
“When you look at the impact across the board from those that are involved in it illegally to the money being used for other criminal activity, that’s why we enforce this,” Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey said.
Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood reiterated the illegal gambling operations are not regulated and “they’re shipping money out of this country by the millions.”
[FLA. UNVEILS NEW GAMBLING HOTLINE: Watch video below]
“Lastly, my message for Volusia County is for you slumlords that rent these places out for these den of iniquity to rob from our people. We’re going to start naming and shaming you as well, because there’s a group of them in my county that are leasing 10, 20 of these buildings out that are wreaking havoc on our community,” he said.
The sting operation also targeted illegal gambling operations in Duval County.