- January 30, 2025
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Florida’s newest state law enforcement organization is the Division of Gaming Enforcement established in 2021 with a force of 15 sworn officers. Their results are exceptional, and surprising, especially in our area.
What’s the big deal? Who cares about a little non-sanctioned gaming on the side? I had the same question. Volusia County has a couple of authorized parimutuel card rooms and horse-betting parlors and Best Bet has a location outside St. Augustine. What’s the difference between a social club or a storefront offering a gaming option here or there?
Here is why that problem matters: During a recent raid in our area, with massive law enforcement presence, a disabled transport van arrived with the passenger rolling on by the cops trying to get inside the closed casino. That patron had dropped more than $750,000 there during the last year and he was scammed for all of it because it wasn’t regulated gaming.
The slot machines and video poker games are running software out of China that looks like American gaming machines but with a programable payback of 3%. Florida gaming rules keep payback more than 85%. Other gaming platforms like card tables make patron losses a guaranteed certainty. Few criminal practices exploit the elderly financially as damagingly as these feckless grifters.
Volusia County has had 80 recent complaints and Flagler County received 30. On Nov. 8 in Volusia County, four illegal casinos were shut down, more than 100 slot machines were impounded and over $114,000 seized. When you hear about how much money is abandoned without a fight by these cowardly exploiters, you have an indication of the scale of their profits.
On behalf of Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida, I encourage you to use our confidential system to let law enforcement know about these shops that are exploiting our family, friends and neighbors by calling 888-277-TIPS. We have also other contact options via the web and apps. The one thing you can be certain of is that you can earn a reward while remaining completely anonymous.
Roland Clee
Vice President of Communications & Programs, Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida
Roland Clee served a major Florida police department as a community service officer for more than 26 years. He writes the American Peace Officer newsletter (AmericanPeaceOfficer.com), speaks at public safety, recruiting and leadership conferences and helps local governments and public safety agencies through his business, CommandStaffConsulting.com.
