San Diego Internet Cafes Busted for Illegal Gambling

California and Florida were both sites of police raids of Internet cafes thought to be conducting illegal gambling operations.

San Diego police joined with state officials Wednesday to raid five area Internet cafes on suspicions the businesses were conducting illegal gambling. Members of the California Department of Justice Gaming Unit combined with local authorities to seize 31 machines believed to be gaming devices, along with over $11,000 in cash.

Police spokesmen said the cafes were using system that allowed purchase of a playing card before using the machines. The games then acted like slots or video lottery terminals, and patrons could win credits registered back on the cards.

Cards could then be cashed in at the counter before leaving, said Lt. Rudy Tai, a member of the San Diego Police Vice Squad. Tai said police were responding after several civilian complaints were received.

Similar gaming machines were taken by police from Ocala, Florida cafes. Florida state Drug Enforcement agents visited two Internet cafes and seized 75 machines, operating under similar conditions to the California games, and arrested four suspects.

Gaming experts, asked why illegal gambling could prosper in areas close to legal gaming venues, speculated that onerous state taxes may prevent legal operations from returning as well as the illegal slots.