TLDR
- Sarasota County authorities raided Spin 24/7 Social Club on March 30, seizing 66 slot machines and arresting two employees
- Florida’s Gaming Control Commission has seized over $14.4 million in cash and 6,700 illegal slot machines in 2025, more than doubling last year’s cash total
- Suspended Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez, charged in a $21.6 million illegal gambling ring, appeared in court on March 31 for a conflict-of-interest hearing
- All of Lopez’s co-defendants have accepted plea deals while his case heads to a May 18 proceeding
- Florida lawmakers failed to pass any major gambling enforcement legislation during the 2026 session, though a special session in late April could revive stalled bills
Florida is ramping up its fight against illegal gambling operations across the state. Law enforcement agencies have carried out a series of raids in recent months, seizing millions in cash and thousands of slot machines.
But while enforcement is picking up speed, the state legislature has failed to pass new laws that could give authorities more tools to fight the problem.
The latest bust came on March 30 in Sarasota County. The Sheriff’s Office worked with the Florida Gaming Control Commission to raid a business called Spin 24/7 Social Club.
Officers seized 66 slot machines and an undisclosed amount of cash from the location. Two employees, Mohamed Belyaqout and Mabielka C. Cumbrera, were arrested on charges including keeping a gambling house and possessing slot machines.
The operation follows a pattern of businesses using social club licenses to hide casino-style gambling from regulators.
In late February, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced a two-day sting covering four counties. That operation hit 39 locations across Volusia, Brevard, Duval, and Flagler counties.
Authorities seized 525 illegal machines and roughly $190,000 in cash during those raids. A separate January operation in Lake County netted 231 machines and more than $158,000.
Enforcement Numbers Show a Sharp Increase in 2025
The FGCC reported that it has seized over $14.4 million in cash and more than 6,700 illegal slot machines so far in 2025. The cash seized has already more than doubled the total from all of 2024.
These numbers show that illegal gambling remains widespread in Florida despite ongoing enforcement pressure.
Meanwhile, one of the state’s biggest gambling-related criminal cases moved forward this week. Suspended Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez appeared in court on March 31.
Lopez is accused of protecting a $21.6 million illegal gambling operation. Prosecutors say he received between $600,000 and $700,000 in exchange for that protection.
The March 31 hearing focused on a potential conflict of interest with one of his defense attorneys. The attorney’s firm had previously represented people who could be called as witnesses in the case.
Lopez Case Advances While Legislature Stalls
A judge ruled that Lopez had knowingly waived any conflict, so his legal team will stay in place. His next court date is set for May 18.
All of Lopez’s co-defendants have already accepted plea deals.
On the legislative side, Florida lawmakers came up short during the 2026 session. Despite calls from Uthmeier and the FGCC, no major gambling enforcement bills made it to the governor’s desk.
One key bill, SB 1580, passed both the Senate and House but in different forms. The two chambers could not agree on final language before the session ended.
A sticking point was language that could have affected charitable gaming run by groups like veterans organizations.
Lawmakers are set to return in late April for a special session where SB 1580 could come back up for discussion if differences are resolved.
