As a result of recently stepped-up efforts to tackle unregulated gambling, authorities in Connecticut and Mississippi have uncovered illegal operations and issued multiple arrests and charges. 

Police discovered seven illegal gambling machines at Cocchia’s Liquor Store on Ely Avenue in Norwalk, Connecticut. Local resources reported that Felix Galinda-Castillo and Jose Gerado Fuentes-Lima were charged on Aug. 7 in connection with the operation. The raid also uncovered drugs hidden in the store’s beer cooler and two fake firearms.

The following day, WTVA 9 News in Mississippi reported that law enforcement discovered a similar illegal gambling operation at AK Express on Highway 8 East in Grenada County. Amy Watson was arrested, and authorities from the Mississippi Gaming Commission and Alcoholic Beverage Control seized one machine while destroying the rest.

Intensified efforts across the US

Connecticut and Mississippi are not alone in their crackdown on illegal gambling. In Florida, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office recently shut down 11 illegal casinos following an investigation supported by the Florida Gaming Control Commission. Law enforcement discovered 400 slot machines and $403,000 in cash during the operation.

The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) also continues to take action against unregulated gambling. In April, the MGCB announced the removal of 167 gambling machines over the past year, with 24 individuals facing charges.

“Operations of these unregulated gaming machines puts citizens at risk — because they have no recourse should they be misled, cheated, or otherwise taken advantage of,” wrote the MGCB in a recent press release

What is defined as ‘illegal gambling’?

Both Connecticut and Mississippi offer legal gambling of some form, so what exactly makes these machines illegal? In both states, gambling activities must adhere to strict regulations and licensing requirements. Illegal gambling machines operate outside of these boundaries.

In Connecticut, legal gambling includes state-regulated online casinos and land-based casinos on tribal lands. Machines not licensed by the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection’s Gaming Division are considered illegal.

Mississippi’s legal gambling is confined to state-licensed riverboat casinos. Machines operating without a license from the gaming commission are also considered unlawful.

Notably, in the press release related to the Florida incidents, Sheriff Mike Chitwood highlighted that revenue and profit from such illegal gambling only benefit the owners of these illicit establishments. Meanwhile, legal gambling revenue contributes to public funds such as the Florida Education Enhancement Trust Fund, Mississippi’s General Revenue Fund, and Michigan’s School Aid Fund.