Volusia County is best known for its amazing beaches, warm weather and small towns. The county in Central Florida is not known for its casinos.
That’s not the case anymore after authorities raided 11 illegal casino operations in the county, seizing 400 slot machines and more than $400,000 in cash.
An investigation estimated the illegal casinos took in more than twice the money from slot machines than regulations allow, resulting in $5 million in profits for the 11 businesses in five towns.
Illegal casinos targeted seniors
Every state’s legal gambling industry is heavily regulated, including in the Sunshine State. Florida online casinos are illegal, and casinos with legal slot machines can operate under only two conditions. They must be one of the eight pari-mutuel facilities in Broward and Miami-Dade counties or one of the six casinos and resorts operated by the Seminole Tribe of Florida.
The 11 Volusia County businesses fit into neither of those categories.
Legal, regulated casinos are subject to strict guidelines ensuring fair play and payouts. They also pay taxes on gaming revenue, which directly supports education in Florida.
The unregulated facilities operated with no such oversight and took advantage of local customers. The businesses targeted senior citizens living on fixed incomes. Many of the seniors were unaware they were playing at illegal casinos. The businesses offered free meals to entice them.
Criminal activity abundant at illegal casinos
In addition to skirting taxes and questionable win margins, law enforcement said illegal casinos attract increased crime activity throughout Central Florida. Police officers have responded to a myriad of issues at illegal casinos, including burglaries, thefts, assaults and fatal drug overdoses.
Furthermore, those running illegal gambling operations have had ties to other crimes like illegal bookmaking operations and drugs.
Volusia County’s investigation found one illegal casino owner sent a large amount of cash to a country internationally known as a state sponsor of terrorist organizations. The US recognizes four countries under this designation: Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Syria.
Businesses had been sent cease-and-desist orders prior to raids
The raids were conducted by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Gaming Control Commission. The two agencies served 11 simultaneous warrants at the businesses, said commission Executive Director Louis Trombetta.
“The Gaming Commission will continue to work with our partners in law enforcement to ensure any illegal gaming offerings are shut down.”
According to West Orlando News, detectives from the Volusia Sheriff’s Office and the commission seized about 400 slot machines and $403,000 during the raids in five towns.
- Daytona Beach: Lucky Duck (1376 N. Nova Road); Klix Arcade (1101 Derbyshire Road)
- DeLand: Winner’s Circle (1250 S. SR 15A); Cyber Monkey (350 S. Spring Garden Ave.); Phoenix 3 (2500 N. Woodland Blvd.); Comptrek (2525 N. Woodland Blvd.)
- Orange City: Preview Games (2411 Enterprise Road)
- Ormond Beach: Spin-N-Win (1464 Ocean Shore Blvd.); Winners (1468 Ocean Shore Blvd); Jiffy (986 S. Nova Road)
- Pierson: Lucky Seven Arcade (1720 S. US Hwy. 17)
The Sheriff’s Office and Gaming Commission had previously served cease-and-desist letters to all 11 businesses.
Numerous raids have occurred throughout Florida in recent years, including last September, when authorities seized more than 100 illegal gaming machines at a Port St. Lucie arcade.
The most recent raid was the second in Volusia County, following a November 2023 sting. The two efforts have seized over $1.1 million in cash and 600 slot machines.
