MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — On Thursday, a gambling establishment was forced to shut down after law enforcement officers discovered that it was operating illegal slot machines.
The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office conducted an undercover operation at Sizzling Sam’s Arcade, situated at 3126 1st Street West in Bradenton, in late June.
As a result of suspicious activities observed during the operation, a search warrant was obtained.
On the designated day, deputies executed the search warrant and confiscated 69 gambling machines along with $52,000 in illicit proceeds. Prior to the raid, the sheriff’s office and the Florida Gaming Control Commission had notified the business about its violations.
The investigation initially began in May when authorities identified 53 gambling establishments that were illegally operating slot machines.
Cease and desist letters were sent to these businesses, cautioning the owners that they could face imprisonment for up to five years and fines of nearly $10,000 per machine if they failed to comply with the law. Following the receipt of these letters, 40% of the businesses voluntarily closed down.
No customers or employees were arrested during the operation. However, the business owner is currently under investigation, and charges are pending against them.
In the course of the operation, detectives uncovered a scam involving individuals impersonating officers from the Florida Gaming Control Commission, who were demanding large fines from business owners.
Anyone with inquiries regarding this matter is encouraged to contact the FGCC or the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office at (941) 747-3011.
