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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - (Gambling911.com) - Gaming Control Commission (FGCC) initiated raids on two St. Petersburg, Florida-area venues Tuesday morning as part of “Operation Final Spin.”
The commission, in partnership with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Highway Patrol and the Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, targeted two locations in St. Petersburg with some 163 alleged illegal slot machines and $247,285 in cash confiscated.
The first location, Action Arcade, saw agents seize 90 machines and $142,020 in cash.
At the second location, The Zoo, agents seized 73 machines and $105,265 in cash.
FGCC vice chair Tina Repp and Republican state Representative Berny Jacques, discussed the raids Wednesday morning.
“These machines are designed to take advantage of people, and far too often that means senior citizens living on fixed incomes who can least afford to lose what they have. Removing 163 machines and nearly $250,000 in cash from these operators is about protecting the most vulnerable members of our community, “ Jacques commented.
“Operation Final Spin and the more than 200 illegal arcades we have shut down before this should make it clear that our goal is to disrupt and dismantle illegal gaming across the state of Florida,” Repp said.
The Zoo Sports Club and Grille bills itself as Tampa Bay's premier sports & social club".
While local media reports claim The Zoo Sports Club and Grille were shut down, that venue appears to be open as of Wednesday with scheduled weekend events expected to go on as planned.
More Bark Than Bite?
A series of gambling raids have taken place across the Sunshine State over the past year. Beyond the seizure of illegal gambling machines, however, efforts to impose more punitive measures have proven difficult.
SB 204, a gaming-enforcement bill that would have increased criminal penalties involving illegal slot machines and required certain businesses to get a Florida Gaming Control Commission determination when there was uncertainty over whether a machine was legal. died in the Senate Rules Committee on March 13, 2026.
And SB 1580, titled Illegal Gaming, would have created a first-degree felony for “Trafficking in Slot Machines” and allowed immediate suspension of business and alcohol licenses at establishments facilitating illegal gaming. It also failed at the end of the session.
None of this has fazed Florida law enforcement.
Prior raids include the following across a wide swath of the state:
- Sarasota — Aug. 26: Authorities hit two establishments, including Surf's Up, seizing 76 machines total. Misdemeanor charges were filed against identified employees, and requests for charges of maintaining a gambling house were forwarded to prosecutors.
- Collier County — Aug. 18: FGCC and the Collier County Sheriff's Office raided Majestic Lounge and Winners Arcade, seizing 179 illegal slot machines and $115,559. At several Collier County locations, authorities issued notices to appear rather than taking individuals into custody.
- Lee and Collier counties — June: This was much larger: a multi-day operation resulted in 479 machines, $294,150 and 11 arrests. The Attorney General's Office said that by June 10, Florida's 2026 crackdown had already produced 3,114 seized machines, $1.7 million and 81 arrests. Most of those arrested were released almost immediately, we should note.
- Sarasota/Manatee — May: Authorities seized 334 machines and roughly $183,000 across five locations. In Manatee County alone, Spin City Arcade and two other locations accounted for 265 machines and more than $120,000.
- Sarasota — March: Spin 24/7 was searched following a months-long investigation. Authorities seized 66 machines, and two people were arrested on charges including keeping/maintaining a gambling house and possession of slot machines.
- Volusia, Brevard, Duval and Flagler counties — February: One of the year's largest coordinated operations hit 39 locations, resulting in 525 machines and approximately $190,000 being seized.
- Chris Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher
