Officials in Florida are cracking down hard on illegal slot machines in adult arcades. A measure that made slot machines illegal took effect in July of last year; only 15 casinos are permitted to offer these types of games.
The state gaming compact with the Seminole Tribe of Florida means that the tribe has exclusive rights to the majority of gambling activities in the state. The Florida Gaming Control Commission has been busy sending warning letters about illegal slot machines to arcades.
Officials do not have an estimate of the number of arcades that currently offer illegal slots. People who are found using these machines could face jail time or fines for taking part in unlicensed gambling activities.
Florida Gaming Control Commission executive director Lou Trombetta warned people that illegal options can lead to higher incidences of cheating and fraud. The state has a minimum 85% payout rate in place on legal machines, but black market operators don’t follow this rule.
could face a fine of $10,000 per machine
Arcades found offering unlicensed activities could face a fine of $10,000 per machine and the owners could get jail time. The state’s gaming commission is looking to hire 15 people to work on the investigations.