The Odessa Police Department arrested, and/or issued citations to more than 159 game room owners and customers, during the past year, according to police records.
The vast majority of arrests were drug-related, making illegal cash payments or operating a gambling business without a license.
“The problem we’ve had is we’ll close one of these places down, but by the end of the week they’re open again and operating under a new owner,” Police Chief Michael Gerke said.
Gerke and other city officials are hoping new measures the Odessa City Council is expected to adopt on Tuesday will make it more difficult for game room operators to stay in business and discourage others from setting up shop in the city.
