Columbus Dispatch – Despite a mess of legal gambling opportunities — four casinos, five racinos and lottery games — Ohioans continue to search out places to gamble illegally.
But state investigators increasingly are finding those illegal gambling hot spots, a lot of which masquerade as parlors for “skill games.”
Matt Schuler, executive director of the Ohio Casino Control Commission, said yesterday that his agency is investigating a minimum of three dozen such locations. He said there might be hundreds more in storefronts and strip malls across the state. They don't seem to be limited to huge urban areas; many thrive in smaller cities and towns.
Schuler said at yesterday’s commission meeting that his staff is operating with state, local and federal law enforcement to seek out and close down the operations, which can be illegal under state law.
Matt Oyster, deputy legal counsel for the commission, said a contravention for illegal gambling is a fifth-degree felony, punishable by a compulsory prison term of as much as TWELVE MONTHS. The penalty goes as much as 18 months for the second one violation.
Last week, investigators for Attorney General Mike DeWine busted House of Skills, a game parlor in Mahoning County. They seized 54 machines after receiving complaints that the business was giving cash payments to winners, a contravention of Ohio law except in casinos and racinos. Other busts have happened in Canton, Chesapeake, North Royalton and other cities.
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