Florida Cracks Down on Illegal Slot Machines

Florida has taken the stance that even though slot machines may be legal in Broward County, they are not going to be found anywhere else. The Seminole Tribe has been trying unsuccessfully to get the state to sign a slot machine compact with them, but so far nothing has come out of that. Eventually the Seminoles will have Class III slot machines, but no where else in Florida besides Broward will.

They have taken to really cracking down on so called “amusement centers” that run slot machines illegally but refer to them as arcade games. The law in Florida is very clear – if it does not take skill to operate, if the player cannot influence the end result, and it has some sort of payout, then the machine is a slot machine and it is illegal.

Back in December of 2005, there were thirteen illegal slot machine rooms operating in Hernando and Citrus counties. The state informed them that they were in fact operating illegal slot machines and that they were to cease and desist all business. There were two that chose not to take the warning, they were raided, their slot machines seized, and the owners and employees charged with operating an illegal slot machine parlor.

Many seniors were upset by the change, as they use the rooms as social centers. They say that they do not feel that they are being taken advantage of, they feel that the centers are doing them a service in that they are able to hang out with their friends. When the Diamond Dust Game Room closed down, many seniors were upset. Then when it opened they were excited to have their hang out again. But then when the State’s Attorney General opted to inform them that the slot machines were still illegal, the groups found themselves out on the street once again.

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