San Antonio investigators raid seven gambling venues over card-prize scheme
Enforcement & compliance1 min read
San Antonio investigators raided seven gambling venues on 4 November over an alleged scheme using Pokémon and sports cards to pay prizes. Authorities found about 500 to 600 machines, detained 23 people including 13 arrests, and seized around US$370,000 in cash, while investigating organised crime and other alleged offences.
Authorities raided seven gambling venues in San Antonio on 4 November over an alleged scheme to pay prizes using trading cards. Investigators are examining suspected organised crime, as well as gambling offences.
Authorities found 500 to 600 gambling machines and detained 23 people, including 13 who were arrested. Investigators seized about $370,000 in cash from the seven venues and a house. The arrests involved allegations including operating a gambling venue and drug offences, as well as outstanding warrants for criminal offences.
Investigators said several San Antonio businesses operating under the name 777 were behind the alleged scheme. Texas rules limit the value of prizes permitted for certain games. Machine winners could receive valuable Pokémon or sports cards instead of large cash payouts and sell the cards at a neighbouring shop. Sheriff Salazar said the operators were trying to circumvent the law.