The Broward County Sheriff’s Department reports busting four illegal casino operations.
After a joint investigation by state officials and the Broward County Sheriff’s, four illegal gambling operations have been shut down, and multiple assailants have been placed into custody. The Florida Gaming Control Commission assisted with the investigation that led to the seizure of more than 140 illegal slot machines and $195,000 in cash.
Lou Trombetta, Executive Director of the Florida Gaming Control Commission, stated, “We are grateful for the partnership we have with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and the continued attention on investigating and shutting down these predatory illegal casinos.”
Trombetta also said, “Sadly, the money these unlicensed, unregulated facilities take in is essentially stealing from the patrons who frequent these establishments, and because they are unlicensed, there are no player protections or benefits to the community like regulated facilities.”
The locations of the illegal casinos and the assailants have not been disclosed. However, the department stated that the cash seized helped break the case.
Carl Herold, Florida Gaming Control Commission director of law enforcement, told the media, “Our Division of Gaming Enforcement agents will continue to investigate and partner with local law enforcement agencies throughout the state, and we encourage the community to continue reporting these illegal facilities to our team, or their local law enforcement agency.”
How Many Legal Casinos Are In Florida?
Florida does not permit commercial casinos; however, there are several Indian casinos in the state. Seven tribal casinos are currently located mostly in the central and southern parts of the state.
The most notable domestic Florida casino is the Hollywood Hard Rock Casino. Known as the “guitar-shaped” casino and hotel. The Seminole Tribe of Florida owns the Hard Rock brand, and they are credited with lobbying for legislation that led to gaming on Indian land.
Are Online Casinos Legal In Florida?
Florida does not license online casinos; however, out-of-state online casinos have been accepting players since the early 2000s. Online FL casinos operate legally from their jurisdiction and are licensed by trusted government agencies that ensure the odds are fair and that player protections are in place.
To learn more about online casinos available in the state, see our guide to online Florida casino reviews, where we break down each site specifically for FL players. It is important to vet a site for banking options, bonus rewards, gameplay options, and more before you start the sign-up process.