Lake County bars cited for Super Bowl betting

Three Lake County bars have been cited by Indiana State Excise Police for illegal Super Bowl betting over the last three weekends.

About 2 p.m. Saturday, excise officers seized super Bowl-betting evidence from Bridges Scoreboard, 121 N. Griffith Blvd., as well as at cash ex- pected to total $53,750 from the bar. Indiana State Excise Police Cpl. Travis Thickstun said Sunday the bar faces a preliminary felony charge of being a public nuisance for promoting professional gambling.

Facing the same charge are: Kenwood Tap, 6247 Kennedy Ave., Hammond, cited Jan. 30; Gary Sportsman Club, 10101 Madison St., Crown Point, cited Jan. 23.

Officers took $27,570 from Gary Sportsman Club and $11,000 from Kenwood Tap, Thickstun said.

Participants who placed bets at the bars could face misdemeanor charges of unlawful gambling. Charges related to professional gambling, promoting professional gambling and corrupt business influence are possible against bar owners and employees, Thickstun said.