BEXAR COUNTY, Texas – Several people were detained in connection with an illegal gambling operation in southeast Bexar County, according to the sheriff’s office.
The gambling bust happened after 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at Royal Room 777 in the 2300 block of East Southcross Boulevard.
During a news conference, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar told reporters 18 players and four employees were detained.
Salazar said the players will face gambling charges, a Class C misdemeanor.
The employees will face charges including maintaining and promoting illegal gambling and possibly organized crime, Salazar said.
Salazar said the operation targeted two connected business areas: one housing gambling machines and the other handling payments.
The possession of the machines themselves is legal; it’s the way the businesses pay out that makes the operation illegal, Salazar said.
Players would receive tokens to redeem for cash at a separate location, a payout method that makes the operation illegal, Salazar said.
“My rule of thumb, my best advice is just don’t come to these places at all, cause you just don’t know,” Salazar said.
It’s unclear how much money was recovered, as Salazar said they are still conducting a search of the business.
“(We) will probably be seizing cash. At this point, we don’t know yet,” he said. “We haven’t even started counting what’s in the machines. There’s also some ATMs in one of the businesses as well.”
No arrests have been made, but Salazar said it would likely happen.
Salazar said the operation is expected to last several hours.
“We know that this is a busy business strip center, and we would ask for people to be patient with us as we conduct this operation,” Salazar said.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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