Galveston Bars Raided, $2M Seized In Ongoing Texas Gaming Crackdown
Image: Van Williams/Unsplash
Law enforcement raided bars across Galveston County on Thursday, seizing over $2 million in alleged illegal proceeds from gaming machines.
Unlike raids last week in Florida, the venues were not gaming arcades but bars and entertainment establishments.
“This is a continuing effort in the county,” said Galveston County District Attorney Kenneth Cusick. “It seems like people are not getting the message after Hitchcock and La Marque. These eight-liners, this illegal gambling, is not going to be tolerated.”
Bars Remain Open Despite Raids
The operation targeted 14 businesses, mainly bars on Galveston Island. Those raided included:
- Jake’s Place — 1706 23rd St., Galveston, TX
- Lucky Lounge — 904 Seawall Blvd, Galveston, TX
- 3 Doors Down — 102 20th St., Galveston, TX
- Union Public House — 114 20th St., Galveston, TX
- Alibi Bar — 2325 Ave. F, Galveston, TX
- Gizmo Bar — 2102 26th St., Galveston, TX
- Island Time Bar — 3102 Seawall Blvd, Galveston, TX
- Corner Pocket Bar — 5227 Ave S, Galveston, TX
- Storage Unit — 5227 Ave. S (Rear), Galveston, TX
- Midtown Tavern — 5806 Stewart Road, Galveston, TX
- Home Team Storage — 6615 Stewart Road, Galveston, TX
- Roll – N – Bar — 8305 Stewart Road, Galveston, TX
- Dizzy Dorado — 3802 Cove View Blvd., Galveston, TX
- Spankies — 9002 FM 2004, Santa Fe, TX
The bars remained open over the weekend for Halloween celebrations. Officers arrested and charged four with engaging in organized criminal activity, setting bonds at $250,000, according to Houston Public Media.
Texas Cracks Down On Eight-Liners
“If you’re operating eight-liners in the City of Galveston and paying out the proceeds or the winnings, I would highly recommend you stop doing that,” said Galveston Police Chief Doug Balli.
Balli said law enforcement launched an investigation after receiving a tip about illegal gambling in June.
The eight-liner machines, as seen at one venue in the picture below, have recently been declared illegal under the Texas Constitution.
Texas law does not allow gambling devices such as eight-liner gaming machines to award cash prizes. There was a part of the law called the “fuzzy animal” exception that allowed operators to award non-cash prizes worth less than $5.
However, Galveston County is making the machines completely illegal following a court ruling earlier this year.
Hitchcock Revokes Gaming Permits After Mayor’s Arrest
The raid last week follows a similar operation in Galveston County in February that led to the arrest of Hitchcock Mayor Christopher Armacost.
In that raid, weapons and drugs were also seized. Galveston County Sheriff Jimmy Fullen said the illegal gaming venues were linked to a wide range of other crimes.
“It’s not just your mom and pop gaming places. It brings a criminal element. You got prostitution, illegal narcotics trafficking … you saw we had the weapons that we recovered from some of these places,” Fullen stated.
Since the raid, Mayor Armacost, who remains in his position, has revoked permits for gaming machines. The city had been taking in around $850,000 per year, which Armacost said must now come from a rise in property taxes.
Texas continues to debate expanding legal gambling options, with Las Vegas Sands pushing for a casino in the state. Efforts to change the law have so far stalled, however. The latest raid in Galveston is evidence that there remains stiff opposition to gambling in the state.
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