Adam Roarty is a journalist covering sports betting, regulation, and industry innovation for CasinoBeats. His coverage includes tax increases in the UK, covering breaking stories in the ever-evolving landscape of US betting such as the...
Read Full BioPolice in Lima, Ohio, have arrested four men accused of running a criminal enterprise that includes illegal gambling and drug dealing. Raids on several locations led to the arrests and shutdown of Jackpot Zone, a gaming arcade in the city.
The individuals arrested were identified as Jai’Quavius Carter, 29, Cantrell Island, 47, De’Jorr Gibson, 29, and Jordan Davis, 31. In a press conference, Police Chief Curtis Hile said the men were arrested for “engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity“.
Hile added that breaking up the criminal group, through Operation New Beginnings, will lead to a better quality of life for residents in the area.
He stated, “The important thing we need to remember here is that a large-scale criminal network was broken up today that was impacting the quality of life of multiple people in these neighborhoods. We’re hoping that we’re going to see significant improvement in these neighborhoods moving forward.”
Jackpot Zone Offered Slots & Skill Games
Jackpot Zone describes itself as “a game room that offers a wide variety of slot machines, fish table games, computer games and more.” Slot machines, however, are illegal in Ohio, except at licensed casinos.
Games of skill are legal, but are limited to prizes of $10 following an amendment to the state’s gambling code. Ohio is unlikely to allow gaming to expand in the state anytime soon, with legislation to legalize online casinos stalling last year.
Lima Mayor Sharetta Smith said her office will continue working with law enforcement to eradicate illegal activity in the area. She stated that there had been multiple complaints from residents regarding the criminal network. She added, “We are committed to an environment where every resident in Lima can breathe easy. We’re not just talking about crime, we’re talking about community health.”
The Ohio Casino Control Commission and the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center contributed to the investigation, which remains ongoing. Police said there may be additional arrests in the case.
States Clamp Down on Gaming Arcades
In addition to Ohio, other states have been targeting illegal gaming arcades. Florida has been particularly active against the establishments, with a series of raids conducted by the state’s gambling regulator and law enforcement.
The latest raid seized 231 illegal gambling machines and over $157,000 in cash. Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC) Executive Director Alana Zimmer also stressed that shutting down venues helps protect residents and the local community.
After the raid this week, Zimmer stated, “These enforcement actions demonstrate our commitment to protecting Florida communities and preserving the integrity of the state’s gaming laws.”
The debate over whether a game constitutes skill or chance has also been active in Colorado, where a gaming operator sued the state over the seizure of machines.
Trey Franzoy, the owner of gaming arcades in the state, said that even though his machines resemble slot machines, they are, in fact, games of skill. Under Colorado law, these should be permitted, he argues.
Those accused of running the gaming arcade in Ohio, along with a drug-dealing network, appear to have little room for recourse and will face the charges in Allen County court.
