Seminole Leadership Pushes for Crackdown on Illegal Gaming in FL

^{Leaders of Seminole Hard Rock and other tribal casinos are backing Florida’s recent wave of raids on on unlicensed slot parlors and internet cafés. (Photo: Marc Rasmus / imageBROKER)}

Seminole Gaming leadership has issued a strongly worded statement supporting Florida’s Gaming Control Commission (FGCC) and law enforcement after a series of raids on violators of the law across the state. 

Seminole Hard Rock Complaints Follow Police Raids

When it comes to gaming in Florida, there are distinct laws on the issue. There are casinos owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, established through a compact with the state, and there are former greyhound/horse racing tracks which offer poker and table games. One thing that is verboten in the state is businesses that provide gaming payouts for slot machines. 

The statement that was issued Monday and sent to Seminole Hard Rock Unity members the same day was in support for Florida’s raids on “gaming arcades," also known as slot parlors or internet cafes. These businesses, often located in strip malls, offer slot machines with payouts that violate Florida gaming laws. 

“Regardless of the term, they are all unlawful gambling operations, and they are a threat to everyone – not just the unsuspecting customers whom they attract,” the statement read. “They are often venues for illegal drugs and even violent criminal activity, caused by thugs who take advantage of their lax security and infrequent police patrol to victimize customers.”

The leaders also noted that state regulators and police lack resources to permanently shut down such operations, urging Floridians to avoid them. The letter was signed by seven executives, including Seminole Gaming COO David Hoenemeyer along with numerous presidents and general managers of the group’s casinos in Hollywood, Tampa, Brighton, Immokalee, and Coconut Creek casinos.

August Brings LEO Gaming Raids Across State

The statement from Seminole Gaming aligns with efforts from the FGCC and law enforcement, which have resulted in several businesses being raided across the state. 

On August 25, the FGCC and 90 police officers raided six different businesses were raided on August 25 in the Cape Coral area of the state. They removed over 400 gaming machines and $540,000 in cash across all six venues in Florida. Furthermore, law enforcement officials accused these businesses of targeting elderly customers but did not proceed with any arrests following the raids. The situation is still being investigated, and further prosecutions could be forthcoming. 

The FGCC found it particularly interesting that these machines were paying out at a pitiful rate of 18.5%, which is far being the legal minimum payout rate of at least 85% of the original wager. Additionally, the machines in question do not pay anything in taxes to the state of Florida since they were operating without a license.

On September 4, Polk County conducted a raid on illegal gaming operations as part of an investigation dubbed “Operation Bad Odds.” The Polk County Sheriff’s Office and Auburndale police raided A-1 Discount Beverage, which was alleged to be operating slot machines from a back room. Undercover officers had previously entered the business and placed bets on the machines in question. When they won, they were paid out by staff from the business. 

Deputies seized 48 machines and more than $100,000 in cash from the business. Authorities ended up arresting 28 people on illegal gambling charges as a result of the operation.

The crackdown across the state or such actions by Seminole Gaming should warn players of both the legal consequences and exploitation that lie within taking part in unregulated operations.