An Oct. 18 raid of a Bridgeport Township bar led to the confiscation of six slot-style illegal gambling machines, 11 computers, $6,306 in suspected gambling proceeds, and $182,430 in Simon Giftcards, the Michigan Gaming Control Board announced Monday.
The MGCB shared that it received an anonymous tip about the PlayStation Bar and Grill in Bridgeport Township, suggesting the bar could be running an illegal gambling operation. A search conducted by the Bridgeport Township Police Department, the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, the Liquor Control Commission, and special agents from the Department of the Attorney General found that illegal gambling activity was occurring at the bar. A second search occurred at the residence of the bar owner, which also found illegal gambling machines.
“Business owners who house illegal, unregulated gaming machines in their establishments are breaking the law, creating opportunities for increased crime in communities, and allowing unnecessary consumer risk to those who use the machines, which do not meet the stringent regulatory requirements needed to ensure fair play,” MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams said in a statement.
Continued focus on illegal activity
The Michigan Gaming Control Board has a special sub-unit that focuses on cracking down on the illegal gambling market. The state regulator is among the most active nationally when it comes to working to eliminate illegal casino-style games, conducting notable raids in Ypsilanti and Lansing, among other locations.
Michigan allows for several forms of legal gambling, including sports betting and mobile casino gambling.
“Our department works hand in hand with the Michigan Gaming Control Board in our efforts to shut down illegal gaming operations as a matter of public safety and consumer protection,” Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a statement. “Illegal gambling diverts revenues from our state and schools, and these operations can pose a danger to their neighborhoods as they typically attract other types of criminal activity.”
Any Michiganders who suspect illegal gambling activities are asked to report the activity to authorities. There’s an anonymous tipline to report such activity at 1-888-314-2682 as well as a non-anonymous email tipline of MIGamblingTip@michigan.gov. There’s an anonymous online written form available on the MGCB’s website, too.
“The public is encouraged to contact us if they see a casino-type gaming machine in a restaurant, gas station, or convenience store,” Williams said. “We investigate every tip and work hard to protect Michigan citizens from such crime in their neighborhoods.”
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