St. Petersburg venues raided in illegal gambling crackdown

The Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC), in coordination with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Highway Patrol, and the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, conducted raids on two St. Petersburg venues as part of ‘Operation Final Spin.’

At Action Arcade, officials seized 90 illegal slot machines and $142,020 in cash. Two individuals were issued notices to appear, facing charges including possession of slot machines and keeping a gambling house. At The Zoo Sports Club and Grille, agents seized 73 machines and $105,265 in cash. One individual at that location was also served a notice to appear on charges of possession of slot machines and acting as an agent or employee of a gambling house.

In total, authorities confiscated 163 machines and approximately $247,285 in cash. State Representative Berny Jacques stated that the operation aims to protect vulnerable community members, particularly senior citizens on fixed incomes, from machines designed to take advantage of them.