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Law enforcement agencies have been sweeping through Central Florida this week, shutting down dozens of illegal gambling shops and hauling away stacks of cash and hundreds of machines.
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office is teaming up with the Florida Gaming Control Commission and Attorney General James Uthmeier for what they call Operation Reel of Fortune. Deputies served search warrants at seven sites in Volusia County alone. At the end of the searches, investigators found about $97,000 in cash and 225 gambling machines, according to the sheriff’s office.
Across the region, officials hit 39 locations. In total, authorities reported seizing nearly $190,000 and 525 machines during the multi-county sweep.
Sheriff Mike Chitwood said the effort is part of a larger partnership with the Attorney General’s Office aimed at shutting down Florida’s law-abiding video gambling businesses. “These are illegal, okay?” Chitwood said in a video post. “They take your money, they launder it, and they send it overseas to be used against our country.”
Investigators say many of the seized devices are unregulated and, in some cases, deliberately programmed so players don’t have a real shot at winning. According to law enforcement, customers often believe they are playing legitimate games with possible payouts, when the machines are instead designed to keep money flowing in one direction.
“If it looks like a duck, if it has a thumb like a duck, if it swims like a duck, it’s a duck,” added Chitwood during a press conference, pointing out that the machines clearly constitute illegal gambling. He added that some devices examined by investigators were set up to never pay, calling the practice “theft” and “fraud.”
A crackdown on illegal gambling and cash machines in Florida
The crackdown comes as state officials intensify the pressure of illegal gambling operators. Attorney General Uthmeier has recently supported tougher penalties for those running illegal gambling businesses, pushing for stronger consequences to deter repeat offenders and organized networks.
The Florida Gaming Control Commission has also stepped up enforcement. In a separate action, the commission the public destroyed 147 illegal slot machines which had been confiscated in earlier investigations, sent what officials described as a clear message that unauthorized gaming devices would not be put back into circulation.
In Orange County, authorities shut down an illegal gambling operation hidden behind a moving garage doorwhich shows how some operators try to hide their activities in plain sight.
Uthmeier said about 40 illegal gambling operations were dismantled within days in the latest coordinated effort, describing it as a significant disruption of organized networks operating throughout Central Florida.
Chitwood also points to landlords who intentionally rent space to these businesses. He urged the legislators to clarify the legal landscape and take a firm stand.
“You have to make a decision,” Chitwood said. “Either you legalize it, tax it, and regulate it, or you shut it down and hold everyone accountable.”
Volusia County locations targeted include businesses in Ormond Beach, Daytona Beach, DeLand, Orange City and Deltona. Authorities have not yet released details about the arrests or potential charges, but officials say the investigation remains active and more enforcement actions may follow.
Featured image: Screenshot from the Volusia Sheriff’s Office via X
The post Central Florida gambling nets cash machines in a statewide sweep first appeared in ReadWrite.
