Bexar County sheriff raids seven suspected gambling operations in San Antonio
Enforcement & compliance2 min read
In brief
- Bexar County Sheriff’s Office raided seven suspected illegal gambling venues in San Antonio on 4 November.
- 23 people were detained and 500 to 600 gaming machines seized.
- Thirteen people are expected to face charges including illegal gambling and organized criminal activity.
Seven suspected illegal gambling venues in San Antonio were raided, with 23 people detained and 500 to 600 gaming machines confiscated. The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office ran the searches before dawn on Wednesday, 4 November.
Sheriff Javier Salazar said investigators believe the targeted businesses were connected through a larger operation called 777. Charges of illegal gambling, felony drug possession and organized criminal activity are expected for thirteen people. Outstanding warrants for misdemeanors are also held against some.
The businesses were on the north and west sides of San Antonio. One of them, the Silver Room Game Room, was in a shopping centre along West Avenue.
Investigators suspect the operators used workaround payment methods to sidestep state limits on gambling prizes. At one site, patrons reportedly received pricey Pokémon or sports cards in place of money. A business next door reportedly purchased those items, so winners could convert them to cash. Salazar said authorities saw the setup as an effort to conceal gambling proceeds. Investigators also found that some places handed out small silver coins that could be swapped for cash.
The report notes that Texas law allows some amusement machines to dispense merchandise, with limits on the value of prizes. It adds that handing out valuable collectibles instead of cash does not automatically qualify a transaction for that exemption.
Salazar cautioned that the businesses may endanger nearby neighborhoods through robberies, violence and fire risks from unsafe wiring. According to the sheriff, a business tied to the 777 name had been targeted earlier. Even so, the operators reportedly reopened at other locations.
On October 29, Galveston County authorities served 21 search and arrest warrants on suspected gambling operations in Galveston, Texas City and La Marque. More than $2 million in cash and other assets was seized in that investigation, and four people face charges of organized criminal activity.