Seminole Gaming’s COO speaks out against rise in illegal gambling in Florida
David Hoenemeyer, COO of Seminole Gaming, has voiced serious concerns about the rise of illegal gambling operations in Florida. He points out that illegal gambling dens—with illicit machines and unregulated venues—are growing fast, especially with frequent police raids uncovering dozens of illegal machines and large sums of money. Hoenemeyer warns that such operations not only evade taxation, but also often “prey on people who are unaware” of what they are doing, with possible ties to drug trafficking and violent crime. One key issue highlighted is the lack of sufficient law enforcement resources to keep up; as soon as one illegal gambling house is shut down, another seems to open nearby. While Florida has strict laws about what gambling is legal—pari-mutuel wagering, certain tribal lands, licensed cardrooms, etc.—these illegal establishments fall outside legal oversight and pose risks to public safety and fiscal revenues.
