After Fort Pierce arcade is raided and shut down, what's next for other local arcades?

Gianna Montesano, Treasure Coast Newspapers
·3 min read

FORT PIERCE — An adult arcade here was raided and shut down Tuesday morning by the Florida Gaming Control Commission.

Midway Arcade, 4986 S. 25th St., was among four targeted in a statewide crackdown on slot machines used illegally in adult arcades. More than $1 million in assets, cash, slot-style gaming machines, computers and ATMs were seized Tuesday in Delray Beach, Fort Pierce, St. Petersburg, and Tampa.

Slot machines have been illegal in Florida since July 1, 2022. The change came after the Legislature approved a gaming compact with the Seminole Tribe of Florida in May 2021, giving the tribe almost exclusive rights to most gambling activities.

More: Florida cracking down on slots in arcades deemed illegal gambling

First shut down: Law enforcement shuts down adult arcade with illegal slot machines in Fort Pierce

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What arcade got raided?

Law enforcement officers enter Midway Arcade, an adult arcade at 4986 South 25th St., on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, in Fort Pierce, during a statewide raid of such arcades that agents discovered operated illegal slot machines. The Florida Gaming Control Commission investigates complaints against facilities that are believed to be running an illegal operation. Slot machines became illegal July 1, 2022, except at 15 approved casinos.

Midway Arcade had been issued a warning on Jan. 27 after a public complaint about the arcade was received by the gaming commission. The commission's investigation uncovered illegal gambling operations and agents served the arcade with a search warrant at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.

The commission had sent warning letters to nine arcades on the Treasure Coast — two in Indian River County and seven in St. Lucie County.

The number of illegal slot machines in Florida arcades is unknown since they are not registered with the commission.

What's next for local adult arcades?

The other eight Treasure Coast arcades issued warnings now run the risk of being shut down.

The raids will crack down on illegal slot machines used throughout Florida. Being found guilty of illegally running an arcade is punishable by a maximum five years in prison, a $10,000 per-machine fine and confiscation of the machines and their contents.

Gambling is legal in Florida, but only tribal casinos can have slot machines. Here's a list

Where are slot machines legal? What is legal to play?

Slot machines are permitted only in tribal facilities on tribal land and in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

Sports betting and cash prizes are also illegal in Florida. In order to operate an adult arcade, the establishment must include either of the following:

  • Licensed parimutuel facilities with horse and harness horse racing, simulcast Greyhound racing, jai alai, and/or card room poker games

  • Facilities operated by the Seminole and Miccosukee indian tribes

  • Bingo, raffles and drawings of chance are offered by organizations exempt from federal tax

Only certain facilities are permitted to have slot machines. These are the 15 sites:

  • Hard Rock Tampa

  • Seminole Casino Brighton

  • Seminole Casino Immokalee

  • Seminole Casino Coconut Creek

  • Seminole Classic Casino Hollywood

  • Hard Rock Hollywood

  • Miccosukee Casino & Resort, Miami

  • Harrah's Pompano Beach

  • The Casino at Dania Beach

  • The Big Easy Casino, Hallandale Beach

  • Gulfstream Park Racing, Hallandale Beach

  • Calder Casino, Miami Gardens

  • Hialeah Park Casino

  • Casino Miami

  • Magic City Casino, Miami

Laurie K. Blandford contributed to this report.

Gianna Montesano is TCPalm's trending reporter. You can contact her at gianna.montesano@tcpalm.com, 772-409-1429, or follow her on Twitter @gmontesano13. 

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Fort Pierce arcade shut down, what's next for other local arcades