Florida Regulators Clamping Down on Illegal Slots

By Jerry Smith Staff Writer Updated: 05/15/2023

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Florida in Clampdown on Illegal Slots

According to recent reports, gaming regulators in Florida are on a mission to clamp down on illegal slots at adult arcades across the state.

The Florida Gaming Control Commission has only recently been formed but is already taking steps to crack down on illegal slots. As part of this action, it has sent out ‘cease and desist’ letters to at least half a dozen arcades in the Tallahassee area.

The letters that have been sent out by the agency have warned operators that they will face financial penalties if they do not immediately cease their illegal operations.

In addition, senior officials said that some arcades are being closed down with assistance from local law enforcement agencies as a result of their illegal operations. It is hoped that this crackdown will help to reduce what has become a major problem over recent years.

One of the arcades that has been targeted by the agency is the MVM Arcade on Apalachee Parkway. It is reported that when agency officials and law enforcement turned up at the property, staff escaped via a back exit. Someone who was gambling at the property opened the door to officials but fled after he realized what the visit was for.

Outside of the six Indian reservations belonging to the Seminole Tribe and certain other specified facilities, slots are not legally permitted in the state.

Impact of the Global Pandemic

One of the things that supposedly have had a big impact on illegal operations such as this is the global pandemic. According to reports, there has been an increase in these illegal slot activities and operations since the start of the pandemic.

Various arcades have been set up in places such as malls and abandoned premises around the state, but there is no clear information on just how many of these operations are currently running. The tribe has complained for some time that state officials are not doing enough to combat the problem, adding that it has a huge negative impact on its legal operations.

Authorities Now Taking Action

It now looks as though authorities are prepared to take action, and they have a strategy in place to assist with this in the longer term.

FGCC executive director Lou Trombetta said:

They don’t play by the same rules. It’s very unfair to the good players in the business.

He added that he has been hiring law enforcement officers whose main focus will be closing down illegal machines and arcades by working alongside other local agencies. In addition, the agency has started to collect complaints from consumers in relation to these illegal operations.

One of the other things that he pointed out was that these illegal slots and arcades offered no protection for consumers in the same way as legal operations. This applied to all aspects of slot gaming, including mandatory payout percentages.

Trombetta also said that these illegal arcades often were not paying any state taxes, which had an impact on state finances and services as well as adding to organized crime issues.