Attorney General James Uthmeier has announced the results of a two-day operation targeting illegal gaming activities across Volusia, Brevard, Duval, and Flagler counties. Authorities seized 525 illegal gambling machines and $190,000 in cash from 39 locations. The effort involved cooperation between the Florida Gaming Control Commission, Office of Statewide Prosecution, and multiple county sheriff’s offices.
“Unlawful gambling operations often play a role as the financial backing behind criminal networks,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “These illegal casinos fuel organized crime, prostitution, and other illicit activities. Florida will see a major statewide crackdown on illegal gaming in 2026. If you’re running an illegal operation, don’t roll the dice; shut it down now.”
Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey credited partnerships with state agencies for their success: “The partnerships we have with the Attorney General, Florida Gaming Control Commission and surrounding law enforcement agencies are what give us great results. They help us keep our crime down in our communities and keep our citizens safe, because we don’t turn a blind eye to any crime!”
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly commented on the impact of these operations: “These unregulated machines rarely pay out because they are set for the house to win. Illegal gambling is not a victimless crime. Often, it fuels other crime and preys on residents who are often elderly and on a limited income in the hopes of a big win.”
Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters emphasized collaboration among agencies: “This successful operation sends a clear message that organized criminal activity has no place in Florida. I’m grateful for the strong partnership between our agency, the Attorney General’s Office, and our regional law enforcement partners because by working together, we’ve made Duval County and the State of Florida a safer place.”
Volusia County Sheriff Michael Chitwood highlighted broader concerns: “The operators and slumlord property owners who prop up these unregulated, illegal casinos are ripping off our residents and costing them their savings,” he said. “These casinos are connected to money laundering, drug smuggling and human trafficking. We will keep taking them down with our partners like the Attorney General and the Gaming Control Commission, but we really need further action from the Legislature to address this problem statewide.”
Florida Gaming Control Commission Chair Julie Brown thanked officials for their support: “The Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC) is thankful to Governor Ron DeSantis, Attorney General James Uthmeier, the Florida Legislature, and our law enforcement partners for these outstanding results,” she said. “Thank you for this wonderful teamwork. These actions are protecting Floridians from predators who mislead unsuspecting citizens. True collaboration is key to a significant outcome such as today.”
Authorities reported that machines were found at restaurants, bars, gas stations, sham arcades, as well as businesses posing as nail salons or beauty supply stores. Equipment included stand-up slot machines, PC slot machines, tabletop machines, coin-push devices and fish table games.
This action aligns with Attorney General Uthmeier’s stated priority for 2026 to conduct statewide crackdowns on illegal gaming operations. He has called on lawmakers to consider raising penalties for operating gambling houses.
The Florida State Executive Attorney General supports community safety through programs aimed at seniors and military members while also focusing on fraud prevention via educational resources for consumers throughout Florida’s communities (source). The office collaborates closely with law enforcement through initiatives such as Back the Blue Campaign (source) and provides alerts about scams alongside public service efforts (source).
