One of the concerns anti-gambling activists have had over the years is the question of elevated incidents of illegal gambling. They believe that if gambling is legalized, people will truly see the huge dollars working their way around the market and take advantage of it for themselves. They may see that there are millions of dollars available and try to steal from a casino or patrons. They may try to get into money laundering or other illegal activities. The problem with gambling is that it is a huge-dollar market and bringing that to different communities could be too much of a temptation for them to manage. Anti- gambling activists also believe that if legislators want to legalize and regulate gambling they are also going to have to have to increase their police forces and create task forces. The question of how far people are going to go with gambling has yet to be seen but there have been more incidents than ever involving illegal gaming. One problem arising is more people holding illegal slot machines. They believe that the games are increasing in singular locations around the US and legislators are trying to come down on the activity. In Alabama it is proving to be an issue and Senator Taylor wants to create specific penalties for possessing and operating illegal slots.

Right now there is a new bill on the table to make possessing an illegal slot game a Class A felony. Right now the activity is only a misdemeanor. The Senator also believes that the new bill should include any electronic bingo machines that are currently in operations within the state. This is going to be an issue for the state to regulate because of the sheer number of games that are classified as bingo games, rather than straight slots. This is a hefty law and it will take some time to get it pushed through. Legislators also are going to have to create a strict definition of what they consider to be “slots” before they move ahead with this new law. It will take them time to sort out, but most likely Senator Taylor is not going to let the issue sit for very much longer.

Critics of slot machines and gambling may have a point. They believe that crime, corruption and money laundering will run rampant if legislators allow slots and gambling to be legalized. And without the proper police force and regulatory statutes set up, it may be difficult to manage. Recently, three people were convicted of trying to cheat a slot machine. William Cushing and Michael McNeive pled guilty to using a cheating device on a slot machine and are now facing felony convictions for the decision. Their accomplice is Susan Lewanda who was also found guilty of conspiracy to commit theft and that is a gross misdemeanor.

What they didn’t know prior to the crime is that casinos keep a “Black Book” of sorts in which all people who have tried to cheat at a casino are logged. Once someone’s name is listed in the black book, he or she will be banned from the casino where they tried to cheat. Not only that, the black book is passed around other casinos and the perpetrators will have a difficult time gambling at all. It’s a way for casinos to keep their eyes on people who are making poorly thought out decisions regarding trying to cheat a casino.

The interesting thing about Cushing and McNeive is that they already were listed in the casino’s black book and still tried to come in again and cheat the casino. The three went to various casinos with their accomplice Lewanda and tried to cheat machines until they were eventually caught. Even though all have been found guilty their sentencing has been postponed to April 15^th. McNeive and Cushing are looking at between one and three years in prison or probation, and a fine of $10,000. Lewanda is looking at up to a year in the Clark County Detention Center and could have to pay a fine of $2,000. All three may be ordered to pay restitution to the casinos as well. It’s a steep price to pay for a foolish decision. Considering McNeive has been arrested for the same offence before, he could be dealt with the most severely. The three were using $1 bills that were forged into $100 bills.

Many critics of legalizing gambling are citing the growth in crime as a main reason why it shouldn’t happen.  Though there is no clear cut evidence to prove that claim, it is a concern for many legislators throughout the states. With the pending legalization and regulation of gambling, many are worried that crime will run rampant throughout the nation. Critics are citing the need for increasing police forces and gambling addiction services, or at minimum having a plan to increase them, as prerequisites for legalizing gambling. There are billions of dollars to be had in the gambling market and as one politician said, “Every moment the US does not legalize and regulate gambling, it is allowing millions of dollars to slip out of its hands.” The reality is that people are going to gamble. If it isn’t available in their states, people will either travel to neighboring states that allow gambling or begin gambling online via offshore companies. Either way, funds are being channeled outside the locations where people are gambling.

Recently Oklahoma City experienced a big crime with the finding of an illegal slot machine gambling operation. The whole operation came to the notice of police due to an anonymous tip they received. It was Bingo City, in northwestern Oklahoma City, where the illegal slot machines were being operated. The Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Department and the Oklahoma City Police Department worked together to stop the operations. When the police entered the facility, they found 50 plus people playing on the slot machines illegally. The people were asked to leave immediately and employees were questioned. No arrests were made that day.

The only one who will see legal problems is the owner. Police found illegal phone card machines and those are what the owner was using as slot machines. He is now facing a felony complaint of commercial gambling for having illegal slot machines on his property. He also may have to face additional misdemeanor charges of possession of slot machines.  Unfortunately authorities will have to find the owner first because he was not present, nor has he been located since the discovery.  As police strengthen up their forces they expect to find more illegal complaints to investigate. Especially since the gambling industry is changing so rapidly.