Sarasota Illegal Gambling Operations Raided
SARASOTA, Fla. – Two illegal gambling businesses located on Lockwood Ridge Road were raided last week, according to the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office.
On August 26, deputies, in collaboration with the Florida Gaming Control Commission, executed search warrants at both locations.
At an unnamed business situated at 3503 N. Lockwood Ridge Road, deputies seized 28 illegal slot machines. Additionally, at a location known as “Surf’s Up” at 6394 N. Lockwood Ridge Road, 48 illegal machines were confiscated.
In Florida, slot machines are strictly regulated by the Gaming Commission and are legal only at eight licensed pari-mutuel facilities in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, as well as certain Indian tribal facilities. It is unlawful to operate slot machine gaming at any unlicensed establishment, which includes bars, restaurants, gas stations, and adult arcades.
Red Flags of Illegal Gambling
Some indicators of potential illegal gambling operations include:
- Devices resembling slot machines located outside Miami-Dade or Broward counties or outside certain tribal lands.
- Machines lacking visible FGCC licenses or registration information.
- Machines that offer cash prizes.
- Devices that do not seem to have any oversight or regulation.
- Facilities that offer sports betting.
What’s Legal?
According to the FGCC website, several gambling activities are legal in Florida:
- Pari-mutuel wagering on live and intertrack horse and jai-alai activities at licensed racetracks.
- Casino gambling, including slots and table games, on certain Indian tribal lands.
- Florida lottery games.
- Poker and domino games played for money, but only in licensed cardrooms.
- Penny-ante games, such as poker and bridge, played outside a cardroom with winnings not exceeding $10.
- Slot machine gaming at one of the eight licensed pari-mutuel facilities in Miami-Dade or Broward counties.
- Bingo, sweepstakes, and drawings for chance, as long as they comply with state laws.
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