The operation targeted 39 locations, including restaurants, bars, gas stations, sham arcades, and standalone illegal casinos, some of which masqueraded as nail salons or beauty supply stores.
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said the unregulated machines rarely pay out because they are set for the house to win, often preying on elderly residents on limited incomes.
Sheriffs from the affected counties described the illegal casinos as fueling organized crime, money laundering, drug smuggling, and human trafficking, while ripping off residents and costing them their savings.
The Florida Gaming Control Commission praised the teamwork with the Attorney General's Office and law enforcement partners, stating the actions protect Floridians from predators who mislead unsuspecting citizens.
This operation advances Attorney General Uthmeier's 2026 priority of executing a statewide crackdown on illegal gaming operations, for which he has urged the Florida Legislature to enact reforms increasing the penalty for keeping a gambling house to a felony.