Huntsville Police Shut Down Alleged Illegal Gambling Operation
Huntsville Police SWAT in Alabama executed a raid early Tuesday morning, shutting down an alleged illegal gambling operation in the 3600 block of 7th Avenue.
Officers took 59-year-old Robert Lorenzo Gray, Jr. into custody without incident at the residence, according to the Huntsville Police Department.
During the search, investigators seized 21 hard drives from gambling machines, two firearms, and marijuana, as well as drug paraphernalia.
Police said the investigation is ongoing and that additional arrests could be made.
Alabama Has Strict Gambling Laws
According to Section 13A-12-21 of the Code of Alabama, a person commits the crime of simple gambling “if he knowingly advances or profits from unlawful gambling activity as a player.”
Gambling is defined as when an individual “stakes or risks something of value on the outcome of a game of chance or future event not under his or her control or influence.”
Simple gambling is treated as a Class C misdemeanor. However, the current penalty for running an illegal gambling operation is a Class A misdemeanor.
If a person illegally has a gambling device, such as a slot machine, they can be charged with a Class A misdemeanor and be sentenced to up to a year in jail and up to a $6,000 fine.
The only federally recognized tribe in Alabama, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, legally operates three casinos in the Yellowhammer State.
Most Americans Have Gambled
According to an FDU poll from September 2024, about 57 percent of American voters admitted to participating in gambling or some form of betting behavior.
Approximately 17 percent took part in just one form.
Lottery tickets (43 percent) edged out scratch-off tickets (36 percent) as the most common forms of gambling in the United States.
About 18 percent said they’ve played games via online casinos or slot machines in person, and 10 percent say that they’ve placed wagers on sports or races online.
Among both men and women, lottery tickets and scratch-offs are the most common form of betting. Alabama is one of the few states without a state lottery.
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