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 BioFlorida’s campaign against illegal gambling continued this week with raids in two Lee County arcades, resulting in the seizure of over 130 slot machines and $22,000 in cash.
In a joint effort, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC) executed warrants at Royal Arcade on South Cleveland Avenue and Spinners Arcade on San Carlos Boulevard. Officers confiscated 72 machines and $3,100 at Royal Arcade, as well as 62 machines and nearly $19,900 at Spinners.
Authorities also arrested Sonia Pimentel, 58. They charged her with being an employee of a gambling house — a felony under Florida law.
Sheriff Carmine Marceno stated that “these illegal arcades poison our neighborhoods and only invite more crime.” New FGCC Executive Director Alana Zimmer added, “We are giving notice to those who want to operate illegal gaming facilities that we will find you and close you down.”
Series of Raids Across Lee County
With the latest seizures, Lee County is becoming an epicenter for illegal gambling crackdown in Florida. Since August, at least 13 raids have taken place across the county, which includes Cape Coral and Fort Myers. They’ve resulted in the seizure of hundreds of machines and several hundred thousand dollars.
In October, authorities seized 139 machines and $176,000 in cash. A week later, an enforcement action resulted in the confiscation of 100 illegal slot machines and $36,000 in cash.
One of the most significant busts was in August. The operation, also in Cape Coral, resulted in the confiscation of 428 illegal gambling machines and over $540,000 in cash. There have been several raids in Fort Myers as well.
The FGCC has attributed the rise in illegal gambling halls to the weak penalties and low licensing fees. That encourages operators of these illicit enterprises to reopen soon after a raid has occurred.
The agency has stated that it plans to advocate during the next legislative session for a change that would make such offenses a felony rather than a misdemeanor.
Continuing Crackdown
As Lee County continues to serve as a flashpoint for enforcement, more coordinated actions are likely to follow. The FGCC has indicated that its collaboration with county sheriffs will expand in the coming months. It will likely be especially active in regions where illegal arcades persist despite repeated closures.
The seizures this week — 134 machines, one arrest, and over $22,000 confiscated — reinforce Florida’s determination to root out unlawful gaming operations while grappling with a new wave of online fraud and digital gambling scams.
