The casino had been open for two weeks when detectives raided it and arrested four workers.
By TAMARA LUSH
Published August 9, 2003
TAMPA - Vice detectives raided a "mini casino" nestled in a strip mall on Friday morning, confiscating 62 video slot machines and arresting four people on felony gambling charges.
Hillsborough County Sheriff's officials said the group had been running the Flying Aces Arcade at 14837 N. Florida Ave. for two weeks, and had even advertised in local newspapers.
"Hillsborough County's first 18 and over arcade!" one advertisement read. "Prizes! Food! Vegas vacation getaways!"
But Chief Deputy David Gee said the "adult arcade" was nothing more than a casino with 62 video slot machines that existed solely to turn a profit. Patrons would insert $1, $5, $10 or $20 bills into the machine, then press buttons to play the game.
"These particular games are billed as skill-related," Gee said. "But in reality, they are games of chance."
If the customers won the games, the machine would spit out paper tickets. Those tickets could be redeemed for grocery gift certificates, pre-paid debit cards or store certificates, authorities said.
There were no customers in the arcade when detectives raided it early Friday morning, Gee said.
Two people were arrested on charges of keeping a gambling house: Scott Hymes, 31, of 321 Madeira Circle, Tierra Verde, and Sarah Teitsworth, 18, of 8814 Lucaya Way, Tampa. Two others were charged with being an agent of a gambling house: Dana Ostler, 42, of 8814 Lucaya Way and Barbara Wilson, 56, also of 8814 Lucaya Way. They were booked into the county jail.
Authorities said Hymes had been previously arrested in Georgia on gambling charges. He has no prior criminal record in Florida.
Hillsborough deputies were aided in their investigation by Corporal Brian Beery, an expert in video slot machines who works at the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.
Beery said each video slot machine cost about $1,000. It is illegal to own such a machine in Florida, unless it is more than 20 years old, he said. Casinos and gambling boats have special federal licenses to own and operate such machines.
People who run clandestine casinos can make as much as $30,000 a week, he said.
"They pop up now and then," said Beery, as he demonstrated how to make a confiscated slot machine beep and chirp. "They're so profitable. It's all profit."
