NORTH CAROLINA INTERNET GAMING RAIDS NET 3

22 February 2008

“Someday the legislature might legalize gambling - until that time comes, we’re going to enforce the law,” say cops


Police raiding three businesses in a sting operation in the North Carolina city of Gastonia this week found online gamblers seated before flat-screen computer terminals, according to local media reports.

Investigators said operators of the alleged Internet casinos paid out cash prizes to undercover officers during an investigation involving local and state law enforcement. The payouts to people ranged from $1 to $3 000.

“People were winning cash. People were losing cash,” said Gastonia Police Sgt. Jimmy West.

The businesses in law enforcement's sights are J&B’s Internet Sweepstakes, Phone Sweeps and Cherry Sales, a business in downtown Cherryville.

Cherry Sales had 20 new computer terminals in operation and the two Gastonia stores had a similar number, Gastonia Police Chief Terry Sult revealed, claiming that online gambling had been in progress. Owners and managers of the businesses did little or nothing to conceal the alleged gambling going on, added West and Cherryville Police Chief Woody Burgess.

“You could ride by and see computer monitors turning like a slot machine,” Burgess said. “They weren’t trying to hide anything.”

No one has yet been charged in the investigation, but arrests will be forthcoming, said West and Burgess. The owners, operators and patrons of those businesses could be arrested, they said. “You can be charged for just playing,” Burgess said.

Following the police action, investigators interviewed patrons, checked their identification and allowed them to leave. Computer terminals, cash and tickets used in the alleged gambling, were confiscated West said.

Police revealed that investigations were initiated against Cherry Sales in November last year, a month or two after the business opened. Investigators with the North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement and the Gaston County Sheriff’s Office assisted Gastonia and Cherryville police.

“Someday the legislature might legalize gambling - until that time comes, we’re going to enforce the law,” Sult said. “We’re going to come down hard.”

Online Casino News courtesy of InfoPowa