Five establishments offering illegal casino games were shuttered by law enforcement in conjunction with an investigation by the Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC) earlier this month. More than $845,000 was seized in the communities of Melbourne, Merritt Island, and Palm Bay in Brevard County during those raids.
The FGCC also coordinated the seizure of two illegal gambling machines from businesses in Port Orange in Volusia County. According to officials, 19 illegal gaming machines and $6,000 were seized in those incidents. Three individuals were also arrested in the Volusia County law enforcement operation, on charges of allegedly operating illegal gambling establishments and illegal possession of slot machines and gaming devices.
The businesses that housed illegal gaming devices in Port Orange were the Stop & Go Convenience Store at 5687 S. Ridgewood Avenue, and Mark and Jill’s Village Tavern, located at 5263 S. Nova Road.
“Through innovative strategies, enhanced resources, and collaboration, these partnerships [with local law enforcement] reflect [the FGCC’s] dedication to fostering trust and accountability while effectively addressing public safety concerns related to illicit gambling locations,” said Ross Marshman, Acting Executive Director of the Florida Gaming Control Commission, in a press statement posted on the agency website.
New regulator flexes its muscles
The FGCC is a fairly new regulatory body. It was legislated into existence in 2021 alongside the state’s new sports betting laws. However, it took some time to get up and running, as its role was called into question while the state’s sports betting framework faced a federal legal challenge.
Now fully operational, the FGCC has replaced the Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering, which previously regulated gaming in Florida. The Sunshine State does not have commercial casinos, though gaming activity is permitted on tribal-owned lands. In April, Gov. Ron De Santis signed new legislation allowing the division to seize illegal gambling devices on behalf of the state.
The mission of the agency is to “preserve and protect the integrity of gaming activities in Florida through fair regulation, licensing, effective criminal investigation, and enforcement.”
500 gaming machines found in illegal Brevard County casinos
In Brevard County, a vehicle that was allegedly being used to transport money earned through the illegal gaming activity, was seized by law enforcement. No arrests were made in the operations in that county, but the FGCC says “criminal arrests are pending.”
In excess of 500 illegal gambling machines and other gambling-related equipment were taken into custody by authorities from the five casinos that were allegedly operating outside the law.
The addresses raided in Brevard County were:
- 4940 Stack Boulevard Suite D1-D2, Melbourne
- 780 Apollo Boulevard, Melbourne
- 1882 N. Wickham Road, Melbourne
- 950 N. Courtenay Parkway, Merritt Island
- 190 Malabar Road, Suite 121, Palm Bay
The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office cooperated with the FGCC in the raids on the alleged illegal gambling parlors in that county.
