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231 Machines and $158K Seized in Florida Illegal Gambling Bust Linked to Suspended Sheriff
Law enforcement in Lake County, Florida, seized 231 illegal gambling machines and more than $158,000 in cash after raiding three locations after sunset on Jan. 8. Deputies searched The Hub and Hot Seats in Leesburg, along with House of Treasures in Umatilla.
12 January 2026
Seven employees received notices to appear in court, which law enforcement typically uses for certain non-violent offenses. It carries the same legal weight as an arrest without any custody. The charges include keeping a gambling house and the possession of slot machines.
Several anonymous complaints from nearby residents led to an investigation, dubbed “Calvin Coolidge,” into these three establishments.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office led the raids with help from detectives in nearby towns. They seized 56 illegal gambling machines at House of Treasures and $75,619 in cash. The search at The Hub yielded 98 machines and $46,597. Finally, they seized 77 machines and $36,621 in Hot Seats.
This wasn’t the first time that Hot Seats hit the headlines. It was one of ten businesses law enforcement raided in 2017 as part of “Operation Jackpot.” However, the facility reopened in the same location under the same name.
Proactively Going After Illegal Facilities
Regarding the three successful searches, Florida Gaming Control Commission Executive Director Alana Zimmer stated in an official release that seizing 231 illegal machines in one night is “impressive.” She warned other entities offering illegal gambling that they’ll face a similar fate.
The FGCC concluded by reminding the public that gambling machines are only permissible in licensed facilities. They include eight pari-mutuel facilities in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, in addition to the locations run by the Seminole Tribe of Florida.
The regulator’s reminder echoes comments that Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier made recently about cracking down on the rise of illegal gambling in the state.
The Jan. 8 raids are the latest in a long-running battle against these illicit operations. In December, the FGCC announced that in 2025 it had seized a total of $14,474,336 and 6,725 illegal slot machines during enforcement actions targeting illegal gambling statewide — more than double the roughly $7 million seized in 2024.
Authorities scored one of their biggest recent wins when they shut down the “IL Villagio Senior Entertainment Center” in July, following the seizure of $348,212 in cash and 190 illegal slot machines.
This facility funneled over $24 million through its bank accounts from January 2023 up until the raid. Some of these gambling facilities even targeted senior citizens by offering them free food.
As enforcement ramps up, lawmakers have also moved to tighten the legal framework around these illicit operations. There are two prefiled bills for the 2026 session, which convenes on Jan. 13 — House Bills 189 and 591.
The proposals would expand Florida’s definition of illegal gambling devices, increase penalties, and strengthen forfeiture authority, giving regulators and law enforcement broader tools to shut down storefront slot halls and sweepstakes-style gaming locations.
Links to a Suspended Sheriff
The story gains more relevance as Hot Seats has been referenced in court filings tied to the suspended Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez. He allegedly protected these types of businesses across Lake and Osceola counties in return for a cut of the profits.
Law enforcement believes that the illegal gambling locations made $21.6 million in profit. Lopez allegedly received between $600,000 and $700,000 from the alleged ring leader of the operation, Krishna Deokaran. Authorities arrested him in June on various racketeering charges.
The five co-defendants in the case all accepted plea deals, including his estranged wife, who pleaded guilty in November to money laundering charges.
The latest hearing in the case on Dec. 2 didn’t shed any light on a trial date for the suspended sheriff. The next hearing is scheduled for Jan. 27.
With several illegal gambling operations now shut down and a high-profile corruption case unfolding, Florida authorities appear dead set on showing that enforcement efforts are far from over.
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