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The San Diego Police Department raided an illegal gambling operation in a City Heights home on January 3, as confirmed in a post on their official Facebook page.
What looked like an ‘ordinary house’ was filled with gambling machines, a stolen weapon and around $4,500 in cash in what turned out to be an illegal gambling den.
Police found 28 people inside the property as they made nine arrests, although charges are still pending for those who were detained at the scene of the crime.
Evidence photos from an illegal gambling operation, including gaming machines, cash, and a firearm. Credit: San Diego Police Department via Facebook
This comes after several incidents last year of illegal gambling dens operating in the area. In July 2025, officers got wind of such a den in a home located near Azalea Park.
In the same month, police raided another operation. A SWAT team was sent to the location where 12 suspects were arrested, and 12 illegal gaming machines were seized in the heist.
This wasn’t all, however, with yet another raid taking place in December last year.
Another illegal gambling den was seized in City Heights before Christmas
Before the most recent raid, San Diego Police announced in December that they had searched two locations after investigating illegal gambling operations within the City Heights area.
As such, 62 illegal gaming machines, money and narcotics were found within the two locations, while several people were arrested in connection with the illegal dens.
Officers seized 23 illegal gambling machines from a business located on El Cajon Blvd, before serving a second warrant at a building on 3rd Ave. in Chula Vista.
There, police seized another 39 machines, while a large amount of cash was also taken following the raid.
The latest raid on an illegal Gambling operation marks the fourth time in just under a year that the police have found such a den located within the City Heights area.
Featured Image: AI-generated via Ideogram
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Several states across the country have been busy this week, as bills related to gambling have been filed, marking a potential desire for stronger regulations or new introductions in the industry.
Representatives across Virginia, Florida, New Jersey, Indiana, New York, Nebraska, Mississippi, and Missouri have made the filings.
Which US states have filed gambling bills in 2026?
Virginia
One of the most significant, if it were to be brought in, is the bill in Virginia, the House Bill 161, which would see internet gaming in the Commonwealth authorized and regulated by the Virginia Lottery Board.

From the US Poker Community Discord, A bill was proposed in the Virginia legislature to legalize online poker, join the MSIGA and ban sweepstakes gaming https://t.co/hdPoa90nEl
— Kevin Mathers (@Kevmath) January 7, 2026

The summary reads: “The bill requires a casino gaming operator that intends to conduct internet gaming to submit a separate notice of intent to the Director of the Virginia Lottery for each internet gaming platform that it intends to offer, up to three, accompanied by a $2 million platform fee that is to be deposited into the Internet Gaming Platform Fee Holding Fund for the purpose of funding start-up costs and other costs associated with the implementation and creation of a gaming commission.”
New Jersey
Moving away from Virginia, the Assembly Bill 6081 has been reported and referred to the Assembly Appropriations Committee this week in New Jersey, but it was originally introduced in November of last year. This would allow courier services to sell instant lottery game tickets electronically and would establish a self-exclusion list for State Lottery games.
Florida
Over in Florida, Bill 1164 includes tweaks to the gambling codes, with a number of changes included that were proposed previously but were not passed. Within this bill, some of the changes include “deleting language concerning factors to be considered in appointments to the Florida Gaming Control Commission,” as well as “defining the terms Internal gambling and Internet sports wagering”, and more.
Indiana
In Indiana, House Bill 1078 was introduced on January 5 with this potentially authorizing the lottery commission to operate the sale of draw games and eInstant games over the Internet. Also in Indiana, House Bill 1235 aims to authorize wagering on video gaming terminals in certain establishments.

Indiana Rep. Doug Miller is calling for an amendment to HB 1052 that would legalize iGaming. Sounds like the same bill the House passed last year.
Miller’s amendment would also create a problem gambling fund.
Amend. #7 is about regulation, he said
— Steve Bittenbender (@BittGDCG) January 6, 2026

This would also see the establishment of a licensing structure for participants in video gaming, while imposing a video gaming wagering tax of 30% of adjusted gross receipts. Earlier this week, we also reported that testimony on Indiana House Bill 1052 was heard the same day, calling for an outright ban on sweepstakes casinos.
Nebraska
Similar bills have been filed in Missouri and Mississippi, while Nebraska Bill 421 has been carried over from last year and this aims to allow an authorized gaming operator to conduct sports wagering by means of an online sports wagering platform under the Nebraska Racetrack Gaming Act.
New York
Then, finally, two bills have been introduced in New York. The Bill 2614, which was initially introduced in January of last year, has been referred to racing, gaming and wagering. If passed, this would allow interactive gaming and lottery gaming in the state of New York.
The other, Bill 6030, was introduced on January 7, with this to allow certain interactive poker games to be considered games of skill rather than games of luck. It includes definitions, required safeguards and minimum standards too.
Featured Image: AI-generated via Ideogram
The post US states busy filing gambling bills, with nine introduced so far this year appeared first on ReadWrite.

Police officers were dispatched to a robbery at a Chick-fil-A restaurant in Leeds, Alabama, on January 2, in which the suspect had a weapon.
The suspect, 32-year-old Kaudija Shondrelle Haynes, threatened to use mace while in the drive-thru of the Chick-fil-A as she ordered an employee to give her a currency bag.
Haynes recklessly fled the scene while putting innocent lives at risk, and police officers tracked her to the Wind Creek casino in Wetumpka, where she was likely gambling with the money stolen from her robbery.
Suspect’s vehicle after crashing during police pursuit near Wetumpka. Credit: Leeds Police Department via Facebook
She was taken into custody with the help of both the Wetumpka Police Department and Poarch Creek Tribal Police Department on the same day after crashing her car following collisions with multiple trees.
“We are proud that none of the employees or customers were injured,” stated Chief Paul Irwin.
“This individual endangered employees while fleeing and when she attempted to elude law enforcement in Wetumpka. She put others in danger and could have killed herself. It shows that addiction will cause someone to do anything to gamble or use drugs. Our employees immediately took action once this occurred to identify, locate and communicate with other dedicated law enforcement officers to bring this individual to justice.
“We are very thankful for the Poarch Creek Tribal Police Department and Wetumpka Police Department for their response to our requests and apprehending the defendant. Teamwork and Cooperation is what makes communities safe!”
This is the latest gambling-related crime in Alabama
Just this week, Huntsville police arrested a man suspected of being involved in an illegal gambling operation in the state.
A SWAT team carried out a search warrant early Tuesday morning, January 6, as part of the ongoing investigation. This follows another case back in October, when a 20-year-old man was arrested in Fort Payne after authorities searched three business locations and discovered 38 illegal gambling machines.
According to statistics from BeautifyData, robbery was the second most common type of crime in Alabama in 2024. A total of 1,753 incidents were reported that year.
The robbery rate was 33.99 per 100k, ranking this type of crime higher than rape, murder and non-negligent manslaughter.
Featured Image: Leeds Alabama Police Department via Facebook
The post Suspect in drive-thru robbery tracked to casino in Alabama appeared first on ReadWrite.

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has recently been appointed as the official ambassador of Betinia, a sports betting and casino platform, as announced in a press release.
The brand focuses on using a loyalty journey inspired by a sports career path, allowing players to progress from beginner to amateur, and then moving on to professional, world-class and then legend.

The Soft2Bet team is proud to announce Diego Simeone as our new Betinia and Campobet brands ambassador!
Diego brings a new level of personalized player experience while representing the true sports passion and dedication that inspire Soft2Bet brands.#Soft2Bet #Betinia… pic.twitter.com/l27tqmxf2b
— Soft2Bet (@soft2bet_) January 8, 2026

Simeone has achieved plenty in the world of football as both a player and a manager. During his playing career, the Argentinian represented the likes of Sevilla, Atletico, Lazio and Inter Milan, while also winning 108 caps for Argentina.
His spell as manager of Atletico, however, has established Simeone as one of the finest coaches in the game. Since arriving in 2011, the club have broken the Barcelona / Real Madrid hegemony, winning La Liga twice as well as securing four European honours.
Betinia to launch football manager-based game inspired by Simeone
As part of the deal, Betinia will be launching a football manager game, which allows players to progress through a variety of challenges, all inspired by Simeone.
“With the experience created by Betinia, fans will be able to get directly involved in the tactical side of the game and see how decisions make a difference,” said Simeone following this announcement.
“The path to achieving my goals is based on the values I prioritise: discipline, hard work and tactical awareness to stay one step ahead.
“Diego Simeone represents everything football fans admire: intensity, belief and the desire to earn your success,” added the official brand representative from Betinia.
“That same spirit sits at the heart of Betinia. We are building an experience where progress feels real, loyalty is recognised, and players are rewarded for staying in the game. The same football game brings their football thinking into a manager’s journey that is competitive, engaging and built for the way supporters follow football today.”
This partnership between Betinia and Simeone will run throughout this year and beyond in a role which will offer a positive impact to the millions of users on the platform.
Featured Image: PRNewsfoto/Betinia
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