Over $100K in Cash Seized: Volusia County Deputies Shut Down Illegal Casinos

Photo of the operation against illegal casinos. Photo by Volusia County Sheriff’s Office

After receiving multiple reports of illegal casinos and substance sales to minors, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office (VSO) took action to shut the offending businesses down. The VSO released the details of its mission on November 8.

The reports particularly described “illegal ‘Internet café’ casinos and illegal sales of nicotine, vapes, and alcohol to underage buyers”. In response, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office joined forces with the Florida Gaming Control Commission.

Together, on November 6, they shut down “6 smoke shops and convenience stores…for selling nicotine or alcohol to an underage buyer”. Then, on November 7, they shut down “4 illegal casinos in DeLand and Orange City, including 3 that reopened after getting shut down in the past”. 

From the illegal casinos, “detectives seized more than 100 illegal casino machines and more than $114,000 cash”. The businesses were “Preview Games in Orange City and Comptrek, Cyber Monkey, and Smash Monkey in DeLand”.

Two employees at Preview Games, who had been working there during its previous shut down in July, were charged with second degree misdemeanors. These charges were for “acting as an employee of an illegal gambling house and permitting the operation of slot machines”. 

As for the illegal sales of nicotine and alcohol, the VSO sent in an “undercover, underage buyer…to purchase alcohol or nicotine products at 12 stores” on November 6. Out of the 12 stores, “6 sold to the underage customer, and 4 were repeat offenders”.

The repeat offenders include Edgewater Smoke Shop, a Sunoco Gas Station, GreenAid Smoke Shop, and Galaxy 2 Smoke Shop. The first-time offending stores were a BP Gas Station and a Mobil Gas Station.

At this time, criminal charges have been passed on to the State Attorney’s Office. The violations have also been “shared with Florida Alcoholic Beverage and Tobacco Division for administrative review”.

Regarding this mass shut down operation, Sheriff Mike Chitwood commented, “Businesses can follow the law, or they can accept the consequences. We’re not going to stop enforcing the law just because certain businesses want to ignore it”.

Executive Director of the Florida Gaming Control Commission Lou Trombetta adds, “Illegal gambling is a serious issue…We will continue to address illicit gambling to protect citizens and communities, and we appreciate continued reports about any suspicion of illegal gambling operations and facilities”.
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Article by Ema Tibbetts