The Florida Gaming Control Commission, in partnership with the Cape Coral Police Department, announced on Monday the seizure of 60 illegal slot machines from a business operating under the guise of a legal bingo establishment. The enforcement, known as Operation Going Downtown, took place in Cape Coral at a location named Uptown Bingo.
“Bingo is fun, and the FGCC supports lawful play,” FGCC Commissioner Peter Cuderman said in a statement. “Unfortunately, criminals prey on Floridians by using a bingo theme on slot machines and falsely claiming these games are legal.”
The FGCC stated that bingo involving paid participation and prizes must comply with Florida law. Simply labeling a slot machine as “bingo” or “instant bingo” does not make it legal.
Floridians 18 or older may legally play bingo, including instant bingo, when the game is played using paper cards. Florida law bans the play of bingo and instant bingo on electronic devices displaying games of chance, including slot reels.
Only certain organizations may offer traditional bingo in Florida, including charitable, nonprofit, and veterans’ organizations, as well as certain residential communities and groups.
Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore said illegal operations “undermine legitimate charitable gaming and can create opportunities for broader criminal activity.”
“Our partnership with the Florida Gaming Control Commission allows us to effectively investigate these operations and protect the residents of Cape Coral,” Sizemore said. “We remain committed to enforcing the law and ensuring businesses operate legally and responsibly within our community.”
Slot machines are lawful at eight licensed locations in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, as well as at facilities operated by the Seminole Tribe of Florida. A mapped list of legal locations to play slots is available at FLGaming.gov/locations.
