Chavdar Vasilev is a journalist covering the casino and sports betting market sectors for CasinoBeats. He joined CasinoBeats in May 2025 and reports on industry-shaping stories across the US and beyond, including legislative debates, market...
Read Full BioA multi-agency operation by the Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC) and the Port Orange Police Department resulted in the seizure of 22 illegal gambling machines and $25,659 in cash from three local businesses last week, according to a news release from the state agency.
The enforcement action targeted three businesses, each of which was operating slot-style machines in violation of Florida law. The state only permits slot machines at licensed pari-mutuel facilities in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, as well as at designated Seminole Tribe properties.
FGCC Executive Director Alana Zimmer said, “The Florida Gaming Control Commission is joining with other law enforcement agencies to stop illegal gambling in our state.”
Zimmer, who recently joined FGCC, added that businesses uncertain about the legality of their machines may contact the Commission for guidance, noting, “This information can also protect their other state-issued licenses, which are often in use at the same establishment.”
Three Port Orange Bars Cited
According to the news release, FGCC raided three businesses:
- Mulligans Grill (3830 S. Nova Road): Agents seized eight slot machines, one coin-pusher, and more than $3,500 in cash. One person was issued a Notice to Appear for Keeping a Gambling House and Possession of Slot Machines.
- Port Hole (932 Herbert Street): Authorities confiscated six slot machines and over $15,500 in cash. One individual received a Notice to Appear on identical charges.
- The Dog House (3400 S. Nova Road): Agents seized eight slot machines, one coin pusher, and $6,000 in cash. One person was issued a Notice to Appear.
Lawmakers Consider Tougher Gambling Penalties
The Port Orange raids come as Florida lawmakers weigh substantial changes to the state’s gambling enforcement laws. A recently amended bill, HB 189, would impose felony penalties on illegal online gambling, online sports betting, illegal storefront arcades, and unlicensed gaming advertisements. The bill also explicitly exempts operations conducted under the Seminole Tribe’s compact.
The proposal additionally clarifies the legal status of daily fantasy sports and aims to provide the state with broader tools to police unregulated gaming.
HB189 follows calls by FGCC to strengthen the penalties for illegal gambling. Currently, offenders, such as the three Port Orange businesses, face misdemeanors. The weak penalties and relatively easy licensing requirements lead to many shut-down operators reopening elsewhere.
Crackdowns Increasing Across Florida
The Port Orange action is the latest in a series of statewide raids targeting unlicensed gambling rooms, bars, and arcades. In Lee County alone, authorities have carried out over a dozen operations in the past few months. They’ve seized hundreds of machines and significant amounts of cash as part of a coordinated regional crackdown.
FGCC leadership has signaled that these efforts will continue. Director Zimmer has repeatedly emphasized enforcement as a priority amid what officials describe as a proliferation of unauthorized gambling machines across the state.
