NEWNAN, Ga. -- A police raid on several gas stations in a suburb of Atlanta last week uncovered what investigators called an illegal gambling operation, according to a report on MyFOX Atlanta.
Police seized several electronic gambling machines that they said were being used illegally.
The machines offer games of chance, and winners are supposed to get a store credit for items, such as food or gas. Police said, however, the businesses they raided were paying out in cash, according to the report.
Newnan, Ga., police officers seized 14 gambling machines from three [image-nocss] different gas stations. Even though the machines had stickers that read for amusement and merchandise only, police said they were actually used like slot machines in Las Vegas.
In Georgia, winning back money from the machines is considered gambling and is thus illegal in the state.
"The undercover officers went to four locations within a six-block area. Three of the four locations paid in cash, with no questions asked," said Sgt. Danny McDonald of the Newnan Police Department.
A clerk at one of the gas stations was cuffed and arrested.
An owner at one of the stations that was raided Thursday said from time to time she paid out in cash, according to the MyFOX report. The owner said she had to because that's what the customers expected. The owner also said she needed the customers' repeat business, because of all the money they were pumping into the machines.
"The weekly or monthly totals may be well over $7,000 to $10,000 at some of the stores," said Sgt. McDonald.
The money from the machines was also seized. Police arrested three clerks, who were charged with commercial gambling. Police said the store owners may also face charges.
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