UPDATE (1 p.m.)—Baltimore County police raided ten Internet cafes on Wednesday where they believe illegal gambling took place, police announced in a release.
According to the release, detectives conducted a year-long investigation and found that the businesses were illegally using electronic gaming devices. Equipment was seized during the raid, starting at around 10 a.m. Wednesday.
The 10 locations, by police precinct, include:
Precinct 2/Woodlawn
- Spin and Win, 8500 block of Liberty Road, 21133, Randallstown
- Click N Spin Computer Club, 1800 block of Woodlawn Drive, 21207, Gwynn Oak
- Wireless Cafe II, 5200 block of Baltimore National Pike, 21229, Edmondson
Precinct 6/Towson
- Hot Spot Sweepstakes, 1300 block of Goucher Boulevard, 21286, Towson
Precinct 9/White Marsh
- Fun Spot Cafe, 4100 block of East Joppa Road, 21236, Perry Hall
- Hidden Treasures, 9500 block of Philadelphia Road, 21237, Rosedale
- Big Dawgs Calling Cards, 6200 block of Kenwood Avenue, 21237, Rosedale
Precinct 11/Essex
- Wheel of Fortune Phone Card Center, 100 block of Carroll Island Road, 21220, Middle River
- 88 Sweepstakes, 100 block of Beacon Road, 21220, Middle River
Precinct 12/North Point
- North Point Internet Café, 2700 block of North Point Road, 21224, North Point
"At the direction of Police Chief James Johnson, detectives conducted a year-long investigation of these internet cafes. They established that the businesses were using electronic gaming devices in an illegal manner. Detectives were able to use computer terminals to play electronic games and receive a monetary payout for points accumulated during the games," the release showed.
No arrests have yet been made in connection with the investigation, police stated.
The sweepstakes parlors, or Internet cafes, typically sell computer time and a chance to win a sweepstakes drawing, and also provide access to video poker, slots and other forms of online gambling.
John Cox, deputy director of the Baltimore County State's Attorney's office, first confirmed that search warrants had been issued.
Check back with Patch as this story develops.
Editor Emily Kimball contributed to this report.
•Spin and Win •Hot Spot Sweepstakes •Hidden Treasures •Wheel of Fortune Phone Card Center •88 Sweepstakes Duh.
Just make it legal and move on. If you are worried about people not paying taxes on winnings, then you should also worry about people working 'under the table'. It's just as impossible to regulate and stop.
Why aren't you complaining about the businesses selling 200 scratch-offs. They'not shut down because the govt runs them. They don't mind that 90% if people playing nd lottery are people making less than 15,000 s year. It would be ok if they would really stand to win. But only 5% of the scratch-offs win, and 4% if those is for the amount it cost to buy the ticket. Only 1% wins the player a profit. Millions and millions of people. So desperate to have money just to get by that they spend their hard earned money with false hopes if winning. These parlors at least provided a social place for a lot if elderly people who can't afford other amusement . I did my share if investigating. The average person that patronized these places were 60snd older. The average bet was 32 cents or lower. The average playtime with a $20 was 3 hours. You think the state cares about crime in your neighborhood. NO. They closed these places ONLY BECAUSE they were mad that people were nit spending their money ONLY ON THE LOTTERY - Their money - Their livelihood.
What sir/ma'am am I wrong about? These places were clearly advertising as sweepstakes centers which is illegal (except for MD Lottery or non-profit organizations with a license). You probably should have sought the advice of a decent lawyer before opening up such a business, and if you did, refer him/her to the Attorney Grevience Commission of MD - you got scammed.
With being apart of an illegal action.