Authorities investigate alleged illegal gambling

Authorities raided an Amherst Township business Aug. 14 as part of an investigation into illegal gambling, according to a news release.

The Lorain County Prosecutor’s Office in conjunction with the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office and the Ohio Casino Control Commission executed a search warrant at Lucky Jackpot Entertainment at 46323 Telegraph Road.

Lorain County Prosecutor Dennis Will said the case remains under investigation.

“We took some of the motherboards and devices that were part of the investigation from the Casino Control Commission, like the machines they played on,” Will said. “There’s a distinction that’s being made here.

“In Ohio, the law either says something is a skillbased amusement device or it is a gambling device or a slot machine, and that is what part of this investigation involves.”

The Prosecutor’s Office is working with authorities to determine the extent of criminal activity, he said.

In a statement, Casino Commission Executive Director Matthew Schuler said they will continue working to shutdown illegal gambling operations.

“Illegal casinos prey on Ohio’s most vulnerable populations, operate without proper oversight and offer no recourse for consumers. While significant progress has been made in recent years to shut down illegal gambling operations, their lucrative nature means they continue to proliferate. The Commission will continue to use all of the tools at our disposal to shut down establishments that disregard Ohio law,” Schuler said. “The Commission is committed to ensuring that gaming in Ohio is conducted with honesty and integrity, and we appreciate the assistance we received from our law enforcement partners in today’s operation.”