BRADENTON, Fla. — Detectives seized dozens of slot machines and thousands of dollars in cash after raiding a Bradenton business accused of running an illegal gambling operation, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office said.

Detectives executed a search warrant Monday at New Winners Circle Arcade after undercover visits confirmed that the business was operating electronic slot and gaming machines in violation of state law, according to the sheriff’s office.

Investigators said they confiscated 58 slot machines valued at roughly $290,000, along with 51 computer towers, a DVR system and $19,055 in cash. No customers or employees were arrested during the raid, but the business owner remains under investigation, according to the sheriff’s office.

Detectives said management had previously been warned and received a cease-and-desist letter before the warrant was served.

Law enforcement struggles to stamp out illegal arcades

The New Winners Circle Arcade is the latest storefront casino targeted in what law enforcement describes as an ongoing effort to curb illegal gambling operations across Manatee County on Florida’s Gulf Coast.

In August, deputies raided Good Times Arcade on Cortez Road, seizing more than $160,000 in alleged gambling proceeds and 55 slot-style machines. That case also stemmed from undercover visits that confirmed cash payouts on unregulated games, and the business was later marked as “permanently closed” online.

But as recent reporting by the Bradenton Herald and Suncoast Searchlight has shown, those closures don’t always last.

A joint-newsroom investigation in July identified nearly 20 unlicensed gambling businesses from Bradenton to Englewood and found that many reopen under new names or management shortly after being shut down.

An October follow-up detailed how even high-profile cases can stall. In one 2023 raid, deputies seized nearly 100 slot machines and tens of thousands of dollars at Spin Fun Arcade on 14th Street West and named Sarasota businessman Gary Kompothecras, the founder of 1-800-ASK-GARY, as a suspect.

Despite the evidence, prosecutors declined to file charges, and the arcade later reopened in the same location. Law enforcement officials said the outcome illustrates the challenges of enforcing Florida’s gambling laws, which they describe as a “whack-a-mole” effort against operators who view seizures as the cost of doing business.

Manatee officials consider tougher rules for arcades

In response, county commissioners have moved to tighten local oversight. In October, Commissioner Tal Siddique proposed an ordinance modeled after Marion County’s rules to impose escalating fines and local penalties for businesses that ignore cease-and-desist orders.

Siddique said the change was needed because state law treats operating or owning slot machines as a misdemeanor, creating little incentive for operators to stop. The proposal narrowly advanced in a 4-3 vote and the board directed county staff to draft an ordinance for future consideration, the Bradenton Herald previously reported.

Arcades like these often operate in a gray area of the law. Because the games are unregulated, players have no guarantee of fair play or payouts, and customers have reported walking away empty-handed after winning jackpots.

They have also drawn law enforcement attention for reasons beyond gambling. Police dispatch records reviewed by reporters during July’s investigation showed that some arcades have been the scene of overdoses, thefts and violent crimes, while others remain repeat targets of investigators.

The sheriff’s office said the investigation into New Winners Circle Arcade remains ongoing.

©2025 Miami Herald. Visit at miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.