SARASOTA, Fla. – Florida gaming regulators and local law enforcement seized 69 unlicensed slot machines during coordinated raids in Sarasota County, the latest move in the state’s escalating campaign against illegal gambling operations.
The Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC) and the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office executed two search warrants early May 27 as part of “Operation Early Morning.” Investigators raided a location on Clark Road in Sarasota and the Bingo Palace on South Tamiami Trail in Venice, confiscating 30 machines at the first site and 39 at the second. Authorities also recovered $62,376 in cash.
FGCC Chair Julie Brown said the operations underscore the agency’s commitment to shutting down unregulated gambling businesses.
“Illegal gambling operations are not harmless businesses,” Brown said in a statement. “They operate outside the law, avoid oversight, create opportunities for crime, and take money from Florida communities. This operation reflects our continued commitment to working with law enforcement partners to protect Floridians and enforce the law wherever illegal gambling activity is found.”
New Enforcement Units Target Illegal Arcades
FGCC Director of Gaming Enforcement L. Carl Herold said recent legislative action creating two new enforcement units — including one based in Sarasota County — will help the state respond more quickly to the spread of illegal adult arcades and unlicensed casinos.
“Illegal casinos are spreading into communities across Florida, and they require a focused, coordinated law enforcement response,” Herold said.
Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman praised the joint operation, saying his office is committed to supporting the state’s efforts to curb illegal gambling.
The raids mark the latest in a series of enforcement actions as Florida seeks to rein in a growing underground gambling market that has persisted despite regulatory pressure and repeated crackdowns.
