(TOLEDO, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced today that investigators with the Attorney General's Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Charitable Law Section served search warrants on six businesses suspected of operating as illegal casinos.
The warrants were served at the following locations in Lucas, Sandusky, Hancock, and Defiance counties.
- Talk N Win, 213 Main Street, Toledo, Ohio
- Talk N Win, 3555 Navarre Avenue, Oregon, Ohio
- Surf's Up, 3156 Navarre Avenue, Oregon, Ohio
- Talk N Win, 121 South Fifth Street, Fremont, Ohio
- Talk N Win, 7525 Patriot Drive, Findlay, Ohio
- Talk N Win, 1500 North Clinton Street, Defiance, Ohio
Gaming machines were removed from each of the six locations. No arrests were made.
"Those operating these businesses are suspected of operating casino gaming devices where winners were paid in cash, which is in violation of Ohio law," said Attorney General DeWine. "While skill games and sweepstakes may be legal, electronic terminal games with cash payouts are not, and we will seek to hold accountable those who operate illegal casinos with no regulatory oversight."
Electronic gaming devices with cash payouts meet the definition of slot machines under Ohio law. Cash prize payouts are only permissible in Ohio at regulated casinos and racinos.
The investigation is ongoing.
Representatives with the following law enforcement agencies assisted in serving today's search warrants: Defiance County Multi-Area Narcotics Task Force, Findlay Police Department, Fremont Police Department, Hancock County Sheriff's Office, METRICH Enforcement Unit, Ohio Casino Control Commission, Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation, Oregon Police Department, Toledo Police Department.
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Media Contacts
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