Seminole Gaming Tells Florida Residents to Be Wary of Illegal Gambling

Seminole Gaming has issued a public warning trying to raise awareness about the proliferation of illegal gambling in the state, in its various forms. A letter signed by the company’s COO, David Hoenemeyer, the executive, and the firm cautions Florida residents that there are a variety of potential dangers to be mindful of.

Illegal Gambling on the Rise in Florida, Major Operator Warns

Those include physical slot parlors, unauthorized gambling venues, and more, such as online operators that have no license or registered address in the state.

“You are one of our most valued Casino Guests and Unity Members, and we are reaching out to make you aware of extensive illegal gambling that is taking place in Florida,” Hoenemeyer explained, citing news reports that there are an increasing number of gaming arcades, slot parlors, and even Internet cafes to offer unauthorized forms of gambling.

“Regardless of the term, they are all unlawful gambling operations, and they are a threat to everyone — not just the unsuspecting customers whom they attract,” he cautioned. This is not all, though, as there are some tangible numbers to go off of in determining the reach of the illegal gambling market.

There are reportedly 48,000 unregulated gambling devices all across Florida, making the state particularly susceptible to illegal gambling, despite the fairly high risks that operators of such venues carry in terms of prison sentences and fines.

“These facilities are illegal and unregulated. They don’t pay taxes and they prey on people who are unaware of their very real dangers. Numerous investigations have shown they often refuse pay out of jackpots to hapless customers. Many don’t even program their slot machines to deliver fair returns,” Seminole Gaming cautioned.

The reach of illegal gaming machines may far exceed that of legal ones, with some 23,000 available.