JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2014 A major bust this week targeting three operations in Duval and Clay counties is putting the spotlight on Florida\u2019s efforts to crackdown on illegal gambling. <\/p>\n
Two-hundred and thirty illegal slot machines and 23 fish tables were taken out of commission by the joint operation involving the Department of Homeland Security, IRS and Florida Gaming Control Commission.<\/p>\n
>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <\/b><\/a><\/p>\n The raid, dubbed \u201cOperation Funny Money,\u201d targeted two locations in Clay County and one on Jacksonville\u2019s Westside.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat we have found is it doesn\u2019t matter, highly populated or lightly populated, these locations find a way into these communities all across the state of Florida,\u201d Carl Herold, Director of Law Enforcement for the Florida Gaming Control Commission, said.<\/p>\n Herold told Action News Jax this week\u2019s bust represents just a small sliver of the illegal gambling economy throughout the state.<\/p>\n Just since July of this year, the Gaming Control Commission has closed down roughly 80 operations across the state, which resulted in 65 arrests and the seizure of $11 million and over 3,300 illegal slot machines.<\/p>\n [DOWNLOAD: <\/b>Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks<\/b><\/a>]<\/b><\/p>\n \u201cPeople are beginning to realize, \u2018Hey that\u2019s not some friendly family business, it\u2019s an illegal location that\u2019s ripping off people\u2019 and they\u2019re beginning to report that,\u201d Herold said.<\/p>\n And Herold noted while those involved may think of their activities as harmless, illegal gambling operations tend to be breeding grounds for more serious criminal activities.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have been told of upwards of five murders across the state directly or indirectly related to these illegal casinos,\u201d said Herold.<\/p>\n And for those who choose to gamble in unauthorized casinos, Herold explained they\u2019re rolling the dice in more ways than one.<\/p>\n [SIGN UP: <\/b>Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter<\/b><\/a>] <\/b><\/p>\n Unlike the state\u2019s regulated casinos, illegal operations lack any customers protections.<\/p>\n \u201cThese folks that are running these illegal casinos don\u2019t have entertainment in their mind,\u201d said Herold. \u201dAll they\u2019re thinking about is profits and they\u2019re taking advantage of everyone that walks in there.\u201d<\/p>\n Herold encouraged anyone who suspects there may be an illegal casino operating in their community to send in a tip through the Florida Gaming Control Commission\u2019s website<\/b><\/a>. <\/p>\n This past year alone he said the commission received more than 3,300 tips from across the state.<\/p>\n Click here<\/b><\/a> to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, <\/b>click here<\/b><\/a> to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and <\/b>click here<\/b><\/a> to stream Action News Jax live.<\/b><\/p>\n Action News Jax Top Stories<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2014 A major bust this week targeting three operations in Duval and Clay counties is 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