Police Bust Illegal Gambling Operation in Fayetteville, North Carolina

A joint investigation by the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office Organized Crime Unit and the DEA led to the arrest of a man from Fayetteville, North Carolina, who is charged with running an illegal gambling den.

Fayetteville Man Accused of Running an Illegal Casino

According to the sheriff’s office, investigators with the two agencies executed search warrants Thursday at two Fayetteville locations: one in the 800 block of Castle Hayne Road and another in the 3100 block of Harmony Hall Way. The searches resulted in the arrest of 65-year-old Sung Jing Park, who allegedly ran the illegal gambling operation. 

Deputies said they found multiple gambling and slot machines at the two locations. As a result, the elderly man was charged with several gambling felonies. These include the unregistered operation of more than five gambling machines and the manufacturing/selling of slot machines.

Park was taken into custody and held on a $20,000 secured bond, and he is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Friday at 2:30 pm.

This Isn’t the First Such Case in Fayetteville 

Interestingly, there was a similar case in Fayetteville almost one year ago. In August of 2025, Sang Hyun Sung, then aged 50, was arrested on outstanding warrants for allegedly operating video gaming machines and manufacturing slot machines. 

According to the sheriff’s office, the investigation began after a Cumberland County resident submitted a CrimeStoppers tip. Investigators, assisted by Homeland Security agents, executed search warrants at two Fayetteville locations. One was in the 700 block of W. Rowan Street and the other in the 4400 block of Bragg Boulevard.

During the searches, authorities seized $40,822 in cash, 16 standalone gambling machines, and 60 computers that investigators say were used in various illegal gaming operations. 

Investigators have not said if there’s any connection between the two cases.

In other news from North Carolina, Governor Josh Stein signed a new budget that increases the taxes on prediction markets by introducing a 6% fee on revenue earned by operators like Kalshi and Polymarket.