Customers push for regulation after Florida arcade crackdown, pointing to other states as a model

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. (WINK) — For months, WINK Investigates has followed Florida's growing crackdown on illegal gaming arcades across Southwest Florida, documenting raids, arrests and the seizure of hundreds of gambling machines.

Now, some of the people who frequented those arcades are speaking out, saying they lost more than a place to gamble — they lost a community.

Fifteen customers, most of them retirees, recently invited WINK Investigates inside Silver Palm Arcade off of Collier Boulevard, one of the businesses shut down during Operation Sunset Stakes in June.

Sue Wieand was inside the arcade when deputies carried out the raid.

"We all had to give up our licenses, and then they took us in one by one, and then they just wanted to run a check on us," Wieand said.

The multi-agency operation across Lee and Collier counties resulted in:

11 arrests
479 illegal gambling machines seized
Nearly $294,000 in cash confiscated

Despite the enforcement action, customers like Linda Pregno said the closure left a void.

"Who wants to sit in front of the TV for eight hours?" Pregno said. "It's more like a little social club or community of people."

Another customer, Jojo Blaauboer, questioned why the businesses were targeted.

"Why would the state of Florida take away from the small businesses and take away from us elderly people? Most of us are not going to run out to Immokalee. It's not going to happen."

State says illegal arcades pose public safety concerns

Florida officials maintain that illegal gaming arcades are more than harmless gathering places.

During a June news conference, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said investigators frequently uncover other criminal activity tied to illegal gambling operations.

"In so many of these cases, we connect these illegal operations with illicit money laundering, human trafficking, large-scale drug sales, retail theft — you name it," Uthmeier said.

When WINK Investigates asked the group of customers whether they had ever witnessed those types of crimes inside an arcade, they all answered no.

"No, not at all," they said when asked whether they had ever felt unsafe.

They also said they had never witnessed drug dealing, human trafficking or firearms inside the businesses.

The Florida Gaming Control Commission has also warned that illegal gaming machines provide no consumer protections and operate without regulated payout requirements, leaving players vulnerable.

In an exclusive interview with WINK Investigates earlier this year, Alana Zimmer, Executive Director of the Florida Gaming Control Commission, said, "For the legal establishments, they're required to have at least an 85% payout. These other establishments may put it at a 10% payout because they're not being regulated.”

Vincent Miller, whom WINK Investigates met during a recent WINK Listens event in Fort Myers, supports the state's crackdown.

"It's so hard to come by, especially as senior citizens, and they're the ones that are getting victimized by these casinos," Miller said. "That was my number one concern."

Miller added, "Just in the last 20 years, these things [small business arcades] have come up out of nowhere."

Coalition forms to push for regulation

The raids have also led to the creation of a new coalition, At Stake Florida.

Organizer Gwenn Rios says the group wants Florida lawmakers to consider regulating small arcades instead of shutting them down.

"If our policymakers truly believe that there are drug lords and human trafficking and things like this in a place, why would they not go in and want to regulate it?" Rios said. "Why would you not want to get the benefit of the tax dollars from it for the state?"

Rios said she doesn't believe regulation is impossible, pointing to other states who license the machines and businesses.

"I've heard that they can't be regulated, and 100% I do not believe that that's true."

The coalition aims to grow through community communication and plans to expand across the state, advocating for regulation and recognition of the economic and social benefits of small arcades. They are also working on setting up a website and electronic petition to gather support.

How another state regulates slot-style machines

Florida law currently prohibits the types of games of chance and slot-style machines that have been the focus of recent enforcement actions across Southwest Florida, and state officials have said they intend to continue cracking down on illegal gambling operations.

The coalition's proposal prompted WINK Investigates to examine how other states regulate similar gaming machines. One example is Illinois.

Under the Illinois Video Gaming Act, the state licenses and regulates slot-style video gaming terminals located in bars, restaurants and other licensed establishments. Operators must be licensed, undergo background investigations and comply with state oversight. Players receive printed vouchers from the machines that can be redeemed for cash at the licensed establishment.

Illinois Gaming Board FAQ

According to official fiscal year 2025 data from the Illinois Comptroller, the state collected more than $1 billion in video terminal tax revenue.

While Illinois regulates a different legal framework than Florida's current approach, supporters of regulation say it demonstrates that states can choose oversight instead of prohibition.

"I believe that these arcades do provide some economic growth, they provide jobs, they provide community," Rios said.

WINK Investigates asked the Florida Gaming Control Commission whether Florida has studied how other states regulate similar gaming machines and whether lawmakers would ever consider a comparable approach.

As of publication, the commission had not responded.