Investigators with the Dade County Sheriff's Office have uncovered what they say is illegal gambling run out of a barbecue restaurant in Wildwood.
Officers found 11 video gambling machines in Pappy's Barbecue on state Highway 299, according to a detective with the sheriff's office. On Tuesday night officers arrested the restaurant's owner, Louis "Pappy" Daniel Dodson, after an undercover agent played a video poker machine and collected cash winnings from Mr. Dodson earlier that day, said Detective Sgt. Adam Reyes with the Dade County Sheriff's Office.
Detectives were tipped off by complaints that the establishment was paying cash to patrons who won on video poker, keno and other games of chance. Detective Reyes said thousands of dollars could have changed hands at the site each day.
The games themselves are not illegal, he said, but paying cash or any other payment for winning on them is.
During the search of the restaurant, detectives also located a handgun and a rifle, Detective Reyes said. According to police records, Mr. Dodson is a two-time convicted felon.
Mr. Dodson was charged with commercial gambling, according to a release from the sheriff's office. His court date has yet to be set.
Mr. Dodson, who made his $5,000 bail Thursday morning, hung up the phone when reached Thursday afternoon at the restaurant.
An employee at Pappy's Barbecue, who refused to identify herself, said Thursday that the machines had been taken out of the establishment and the restaurant was still open for business.
Detective Reyes said it was "quite possible" that other people were involved in the gambling operation, but said the sheriff's office doesn't have any other leads yet.
Detective Reyes said the gambling machines were extensively used and had been installed for a long time, although officers aren't certain how long they had been used illegally.