Texas Completes Biggest Gambling Prosecution Ever

The state of Texas went a long way on Monday towards showing gambling establishments that carry video gaming machines that they mean business. The state completed the biggest gambling prosecution ever when Aces Wired plead guilty to gambling related charges.

The company was running their Ace Amusement centers all across the state. They were establishments that had gaming machines where customers could come in and play eight-liner machines. The winners would then be paid in prizes.

The state combined many of their law enforcement agencies on the raid that took place back in May of last year. When executing the search warrant, they found thousands of dollars in cash and also seized the eight-liner machines.

In addition to the illegal gambling charges, founder of Aces Wired, Gordon Graves, plead guilty to felony tampering with evidence charges. As a result, Graves will be forced to have no dealings with eight-liner machines and must cooperate with authorities in ongoing investigations.

The state of Texas is just one state that is attempting to crack down on these illegal gambling establishments. The problem that some states are having, however, is that the laws are not clear on whether the machines are legal or not. If they do not pay out cash, they are legal in some states.

The gambling establishments have used the cash loophole to operate. Instead of cash, some facilities pay out their winning customers in gift cards. This has been an area where local and state law officials and judges have had discrepancies on their interpretation of the law.

August 17, 2009
Posted By Terry Goodwin
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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