Reload card economy
VIP Sweepstakes seemed like a place to find fun—and legal—gambling entertainment in Florida, but all is not as it seems. Authorities identified VIP Sweepstakes as part of a network of illegal gambling arcades operating across the state, with locations spanning as far as West Palm Beach to Zephyrhills. As of 2022, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Money Laundering Unit has taken over, connecting investigations into VIP Sweepstakes to three other arcades: Treasure Hunters in Fort Pierce, Pharaoh’s Treasure in Vero Beach, and another location in Zephyrhills.
the reload cards violated Florida gambling laws
The money laundering scheme involved patrons putting money onto “reload cards,” which would then be used to play video slot machines that pay out cash prizes. While the act may seem harmless, and above all legal, the reload cards violated Florida gambling laws.
CBS12 News reports: “Under Florida law, the possession of slot machines offering cash prizes is illegal, except in specific licensed facilities, such as certain tribal locations and pari-mutuel sites in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. During undercover operations, investigators observed that only cash was being offered as prizes.”
Visitors stunned the place was illegal
A frequent visitor named Elsie said: “It was fun to come and have lunch, play a little bit, and go about your business… They were Treasure Hunt. Then they came back with new machines and called themselves VIP. Why would we not think it was legal?”
Another customer named Ann said: “To tell you the truth, I thought they did such a nice job there. I can’t imagine why it’s shut down… I would see ladies in my neighborhood saying they were going to the arcade. I thought they were talking about pinball machines. One day, I went with them and won some money. I was so happy.”
Additional illegal activities
The investigation has so far revealed that from October 20, 2022, to October 19, 2023, a total of close to $800,000 in cash was deposited into the West Palm Beach arcade’s accounts, with the money allegedly not only used to fund payroll and utilities, but also luxury expenses “like a Mini Cooper.” Authorities describe the movement of money as part of the operation’s scheme “to disguise the operation’s profits.”
access to the ATMs under strict control of the illegal gambling establishments
Further, deputies identified a line of illegal ATMs operating at the facilities without traditional bank oversight. The machines are instead owned by private companies, with access to the ATMs under strict control of the illegal gambling establishments. The machines are installed to give on-sight access to money, funded by the cash generated by each establishment’s illegal gambling activities.
The suspects
Suspects in the investigation include Nova Roffey, Ritesh Patel, Joseph Michael Pestana, Eric David Silverstein, Justin Earl Silverstein, and David Roffey.
Nova and David Roffey, Pestana, and the Silversteins stand accused of money laundering of $100,000 or more, conspiracy money laundering of $100,000 or more, keeping a gambling house, agent or employee of a gambling house, conducting an unlawful lottery, and unlawful manufacturing of sale or possession of coin-operated devices.
Patel must confront 50 counts of unlawful possession of slot machines, operating an unlawful lottery, being an agent or employee of a gambling house, keeping a gambling house, and conspiracy to commit money laundering of $100,000 or more.
