Committee members describe police raid on suspected gambling machines, raise concerns about machines' operation

Committee members discussed recent law-enforcement action targeting suspected illegal gambling machines in the city and surrounding area.

Members said police executed raids at five locations; the Florida Gaming Commission was mentioned as part of investigatory coordination. Committee members described machines that had a so-called “peekaboo” or preview feature that could allow a user to see whether the next spin would win, which participants said complicated the line between a novelty arcade game and gambling. Members also described business arrangements in which third-party owners install machines in gas stations, restaurants or houses and share receipts with the premises — committee members reported concerns that operators sometimes did not remit expected payments to the host businesses.

No formal action or request for a staff report was recorded. Committee members said the topic had drawn local attention and suggested that enforcement, regulation and public awareness could be issues for future meetings or coordination with city or county law enforcement.

The committee did not identify specific owners or name any pending charges in the meeting record; statements were offered as member accounts and reporting of recent police enforcement activity.