TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Florida\u2019s attorney general says a major crackdown on illegal gambling has led to eleven arrests and hundreds of machines being seized. <\/p>\n
During a press conference in Naples on Wednesday, James Uthmeier announced the results of Operation Sunset Stakes alongside the sheriffs of Lee and Collier Counties and the Florida Gaming Control Commission. <\/p>\n
County officials say they took 479 illegal gaming machines and nearly $294,000 in suspected illegal proceeds. <\/p>\n
More on crime in our area:<\/p>\n
Uthmeier says the reason arrests like these matter is because illegal gambling operations are almost always tied to broader criminal activities. <\/p>\n
\u201cIn so many of these cases, we connect these illegal operations with illicit money laundering, embezzlement, trafficking, large-scale drug sales, retail theft, you name it,\u201d he said. \u201cThere\u2019s almost always a larger criminal network coordinated effort to scam and steal.\u201d <\/p>\n
Uthmeier says these scams often target the elderly and the most vulnerable. <\/p>\n
He says since the Florida Gaming Commission was formed last year, they\u2019ve seized a total of more than 10,000 illegal slot machines. <\/p>\n
In the Big Bend, officials are also cracking down on illegal gambling. <\/p>\n
In April, the Florida Gaming Control Commission and local law enforcment raided an internet cafe in Havana <\/a>for allegedly running an illegal gambling operation. Crews there seized dozens of illegal slot machines. <\/p>\n Also in April, two people in Tallahassee were arrested <\/a>for running a gambling house at the North Tallahassee Arcade. <\/p>\n During that bust, law enforcement discovered 29 slot machines, more than $17,000 and weapons. <\/p>\n To keep up with the latest news as it develops, follow WCTV on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, Nextdoor<\/a> <\/a>and X<\/a> (Twitter<\/a>).<\/p>\n Have a news tip or see an error? Write to us here<\/a>. Please include the article\u2019s headline in your message.<\/p>\n Be the first to see all the biggest headlines by downloading the WCTV News app. Click here<\/a> to get started.<\/p>\n Copyright 2026 WCTV. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n