Timothy Surgen, resident of Kent, Florida, faces greater than 100 prices for his alleged possession of slot machines and for working the mentioned items of on line casino gear inside his Treasure Island Arcade, Black Beards Tremendous Sport Room, and Video games N Extra grownup arcade institutions. The alleged unlawful operations have been carried out via his firm, Surgen Enterprises LLC.
The allegations in opposition to Surgen embrace accusations of cash laundering for over $100,000, in addition to 120 counts of illegal possession of a slot machine and two counts of holding a playing home. The defendant pleaded not responsible on all 100+ counts.
The Ohio Secretary of State’s web site exhibits that Surgen’s firm, Surgen Enterprises LLC, was established in 2012 within the state. The mentioned yr additionally noticed him creating an Akron-based tanning salon. Surgen Enterprises LLC was moved to Florida six years later, and in 2019, Surgen opened the Treasure Island Arcade, which had 50 arcade machines, in line with his enterprise utility. Video games N Extra and Black Beards Tremendous Sport Room have been each opened in 2022, with the latter closing in 2023. The 2 areas had included over 40 arcade machines mixed earlier than Beards Tremendous Sport Room’s closure, in line with Surgen’s listings.
All institutions have been supposed to deal with atypical arcade machines, however Florida authorities allege that the retail venues have been as a substitute used for the operation of unlawful slot machines.
The Palm Seashore County’s Workplace Has Been Investigating Surgen’s Grownup Arcade Areas for Months
The accusations observe a radical investigation by the Palm Seashore County Sheriff’s Workplace. The operation was carried out attributable to a grievance filed in 2022 that involved unlawful playing. Between November 2022 and September 2023, Palm Seashore authorities organized eight undercover operations that uncovered the actions that occurred in any respect three of Surgen’s grownup arcade institutions.
At Video games N Extra and Treasure Island Arcade, brokers discovered round 60 slot machines. The mentioned items of kit have been discovered to be unlawful after Palm Seashore authorities examined the machines with a price range of $580. The slots awarded the investigators with cashout tickets, and the aim of the mentioned tickets was for patrons to alternate them for money and present playing cards. One other regarding element about Surgen’s venues has to do with the truth that every location was protected by armed safety guards.
In the long run, Surgen was discovered to have leveraged Surgen Enterprises LLC so as to earn round $304,000 from unlawful playing operations, with $140,000 of the mentioned sum being laundered. The remainder of the funds have been utilized to finance the continued operation of the grownup arcades.
In Florida, the operation of cash-based slot machines which reward gamers with cash is in opposition to the legislation. The one varieties of retail on line casino areas which might be thought of authorized are tribal playing institutions, with the Miccosukee Tribe being in control of the Miccosukee On line casino & Resort, whereas the Seminole Tribe operates a number of land-based casinos.
The legislation has not but expanded to different types of on line casino companies, and Florida authorities have been cracking down on on line casino operations masked as grownup arcade companies. In addition to Surgen’s case, this October additionally noticed the arrest of two people who owned 20 unlawful slot machines that have been operated throughout the house owners’ Seashore Aspect Social Membership arcade.
