US Authorities Clamp Down On Illegal Slot Machines In "Operation Jackpot"

Around 13 locations were raided and at least 15 people arrested on Monday, as part of a US crackdown on illegal gambling operations, known as “Operation Jackpot.”
The raids were a culmination of a three-month investigation by the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office following several complaints by citizens concerned about gambling activity in the county.
At around 9:15 a.m, more than 150 officers raided several locations across Rockdale County and Clayton County, with the assistance of the FBI, ATF, the U.S. Marshals Service, and Immigration Customs Enforcement.
At the heart of the raids would appear to be the arrest of Larry Lee Simmons, who is believed to be the owner of a gambling machine manufacturing business called All-Star Inc. Simmons is also the owner of The Cedar Room in Riverdale which was also raided.
In total, around four establishments were raided in Rockdale County and a further nine in Clayton County, with Sheriff Kem Kimbrough commenting:
“In this case, we stumbled on a pretty major organization…Turns out these operations are supported by a company that manufactures gambling devices out in Rockdale County…What makes them [gambling machines] illegal is the fact that they are utilized with cash payouts.  ”
Hundreds of the electronic poker machines were seized during the raids and Sheriff Kem Kimbrough further noted that All-Star Inc had customers all across the state of Georgia.
In addition to the machines, thousands of dollars in cash was also confiscated with Kem Kimbrough explaining:
“Just in the locations that we raided, we’re talking about $50-60,000 cash.  But based upon some of the information that we got from our investigators, we’re talking about upwards of $300,000-400,000 a month.”
Larry Lee Simmons and other men arrested during “Operation Jackpot” now face a whole range of gambling charges, including manufacturing and possession of gambling equipment, as well as keeping a gambling place.


Poker News
Mississippi Casinos Post Record Revenue in April as Sports Betting Beckons
04 Jun 2018
Mississippi’s casinos generated gross gaming revenue of $184 million in April, or 5% more compared to the same month in 2017. Furthermore, that total represents an all-time high for the state, and is 1.3% more than the previous record set in 2007 when thousands of volunteers entered Mississippi to assist in cleanup efforts post-Hurricane Katrina.
Switzerland Prepares For June 10th Legalized iGambling Referendum
04 Jun 2018
On June 10th, Switzerland will hold a national referendum to decide whether the ‘Money Gaming Act’ passed by the Swiss Parliament in September 2017 can be implemented next year in its present form. The piece of legislation paves the way for land-based casinos and local partners to offer legalized online gambling in Switzerland, although a
MGM Resorts International Buys NY's Empire City Casino for $850 Million
02 Jun 2018
Real estate and entertainment conglomerate MGM Resorts International has revealed that it’s embarking on a purchase of Empire City Casino, a slots and pari-mutuel wagering venue located in Yonkers, N.Y., just a few miles north of Manhattan. The deal was announced May 29 in a press release, and is expected to be completed near the
Delaware to Launch Full-Scale Sports Betting on June 5th
02 Jun 2018
Last month’s decision by the US Supreme Court to overturn the sports betting ban in the country has opened the floodgates for individual states to legalize and regulate sports wagering within their borders. Before its decision was even made, though, a number of states had already put in place the necessary legislation in order to