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 BioIllegal gambling busts continue with full force as a multi-agency crackdown dubbed “Operation Bad Odds” in Polk County resulted in 28 arrests and the seizure of 48 gambling machines and $100,971 in cash.
The operation unfolded on September 3, 2025, after an undercover investigation into storefronts in Winter Haven, Lakeland, Bradley Junction, Wahneta, Lake Wales, and Haines City.
Polk County Sheriff’s undercover detectives executed warrants at 11 locations and uncovered a 12th during the raids. Alongside the machine and cash, they seized two firearms and drink coolers used to store cash payouts.
Sheriff Grady Judd said the illegal machines were cheating players, noting:
“People who gamble on machines like the ones we confiscated are being ripped off. These machines are not programmed for fair play. And the odds are, stores who engage in illegal gambling are at a higher risk of being robbed due to the cash they have on hand. It’s a safe bet that you’re going to jail if you illegally gamble or provide the machines to enable those to illegally gamble.”
Several suspects face additional charges, including drug possession. The sheriff’s office added that five suspects were in the US illegally. Charges ranged across three statutes:
- FSS 849.01 – Keeping a gambling house (misdemeanor)
- FSS 849.231 – Possessing a slot machine (misdemeanor)
- FSS 849.09(1)(B) – Disposing of money by lottery (felony)
Florida Sees Surge in Illegal Gambling Raids
The Polk County bust is part of a broader enforcement effort across the Sunshine State.
In late August, Cape Coral police and the Florida Gaming Control Commission seized 428 machines and more than $540,000 in cash from seven arcades and a residence. Authorities said the arcades targeted elderly players, with rigged payout rates as low as 18.5%.
Earlier that month, in Port Richey, Operation Skilled Takedown raided five arcades. They confiscated 249 slot machines and recovered $194,262 in gambling proceeds. So far in 2025, Florida authorities have conducted several raids, including in Okeechobee, DeLand, Tallahassee, and Daytona Beach.
Together with Polk County’s sweep, these raids highlight a sharp rise in unregulated gambling, as well as increased enforcement in Florida, where storefront “arcades” are proliferating and regulators are playing a game of whack-a-mole.
National Enforcement Wave
Florida’s crackdown mirrors a broader trend across the US, with multiple high-profile operations making headlines in recent weeks.
In Galveston County, Texas, authorities seized $1.5 million in cash and 81 gambling machines, arresting six people linked to an organized crime ring. Also in Texas, a raid on San Antonio’s “Royal Room 777” uncovered 60 machines and $67,350 in cash. That led to felony charges against four employees.
In Macomb County, Michigan, raids across multiple locations resulted in the arrests of four individuals. Authorities also confiscated 10 machines, along with $17,00.
In Alameda, California, police raided a home. They made two arrests, seizing 10 machines, gaming tables, cash, drug paraphernalia, and two firearms — including an assault rifle.
Beyond these state-level actions, federal prosecutors recently indicted nine individuals in Missouri for running a $9.5 million arcade-based gambling scheme. Meanwhile, a South Texas woman received an 18-month sentence for orchestrating a $21 million “8-liner” slot racket.
Even celebrities have surfaced in the headlines, with former NBA player Gilbert Arenas charged in Los Angeles for hosting an underground poker ring.
