An illegal gambling investigation in Florida resulted in 28 arrests and prompted a warning to others involved in the black market in the state that they should fear similar treatment very soon. 

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd spoke on Thursday about ‘Operation Bad Odds’, an undercover operation that targeted illegal slot machines across the county. 

Slots were discovered concealed in back rooms in 12 different stores and the bust recovered more than $100,000 in cash. 

Judd sent a stark warning to discourage any similar schemes in his jurisdiction in the future. 

“Understand one thing, you are violating the law. Understand another thing, our detectives are going to investigate you,” he said.  

“We are going to run through you like a dose of salts through a widow woman. You are not going to violate the law in this county.”

The American Gaming Association has revealed worrying figures about illegal gambling across the country, showcasing how prevalent stories such as this could be in the near future. 

It found that illegal casino sites generated $18.6 billion in revenue in 2025, up nearly 38% since 2022. 

In addition, the percentage of players using only legal online casino sites dropped from 52% in 2022 to 24% this year, while those splitting between legal and illegal platforms nearly tripled to 49% in the same period.

With limited legal betting in the state, Florida is susceptible to illegal gambling. With legal betting restricted to the Seminole Tribe, Florida misses out on significant revenue as players turn to offshore options.”

Stories like this demonstrate two things. The first is that the clampdown on illegal activity is developing. However, it also points towards a desire for the widespread availability of illegal gambling in areas such as Florida.