Casinos raided: Sheriff says too many seniors losing money
By Gregg Wendorf
Advance News Journal
When the 8-liner slot machines, or “skilled video games,” call them what you like, started springing up last year, this year, in and around small to mid-size cities stretched across Hidalgo County, like Edcouch, Elsa, Weslaco, Sullivan City, the owners and city officials thought they had the law on their side. After all, they had passed an ordinance making these establishments legal inside city limits, and they had placed hefty fees to open.
In Elsa, for example, all applicants for a game-room license had to pay a one-time, non-transferable fee of $50,000, which, get this, was non-refundable if the applicant was denied a permit to open. (Source: PlayTexas. com.)
Small fry need not apply.
At the same time, a year ago, the Elsa city attorney told PlayTexas.com: “We’re not interested in small-scale operations with five or 10 machines. These licenses will be for big 50- to 100-machine rooms.”
Ka-ching. Then came the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office, ruining all the fun, raiding the so-called gambling dens. Clearly, some people weren’t happy, aren’t happy.
What’s unique about these raids are that they are inside city limits, except for the one just outside Weslaco, where gaming ordinances have been established, presumably under the jurisdiction of city police, not the sheriff’s office.
That’s where their thinking is wrong, said Hidalgo County Sheriff Eddie Guerra, who said that by statute, the sheriff’s office has jurisdiction over the entire county, including land inside city limits. Which is why you’re seeing these so-called casinos being raided by sheriff’s deputies as opposed to city cops.
In the cities where the 8-liner places are being raided, said Guerra, the local PDs are under the management of city governments, and the cities are allowing (the so-called gaming establishments) to open, so their hands are tied.
“We’re the ones getting the complaints, the Crime Stopper tips,” said Guerra, “and we can’t forward them to the cities, so we’re just taking it on our own (to work the cases).”
Guerra said that the complaints coming recently from inside the cities where raids have occurred — Edcouch, Elsa, Sullivan City — have started growing in number.
What sort of complaints? “We get calls from people who say, ‘My elderly parents are addicted to gambling.’ They are on fixed incomes, and they go to these places and spend all their money, so they don’t have the money for electricity, food, rent.’
A big problem for seniors living month to month on Social Security, for example, said Guerra.
“It’s a big problem for a lot of people. I’ve got some staff members (at the SO) who say that their elderly parents are going to these places.”
What about the fact that some of the cities have passed ordinances that allow these so-called casinos to open up shop?
“The ordinances and permits are one thing. I have no control over that,” said Guerra. “In some of these cities, they give a permit to these places (to open up shop). It’s like a permit to sell liquor. But no city can pass an ordinance that violates state law (which still cites gambling as illegal).”
Guerra said the fact that these socalled casinos, AKA, “viable game rooms,” handle large sums of money isn’t in dispute.
“The undercover agents are going in there, and they are winning substantial money, and the (casinos) are paying out, and that’s against the law.”
Problem is, at least for those who plunk down money on a regular basis, the house is always going to make money, said Guerra.
Charges Filed
The charges being filed against those operating these so-called casinos include, keeping a gambling place, possession of gambling equipment, and engaging in organized criminal activity, said Guerra.
Without naming names, when asked if he’s getting pushback from any cities and their respective elected officials, the sheriff said, “City officials want to meet. Like in Sullivan City, we visited with the mayor, who said that (city officials) were told that they (the gaming machines) were legal.”
Guerra said it’s unbelievable what some of these so-called gambling joints are making a night.
“Unbelievable what they make in a night.”
An interview with Sheriff Eddie Guerra wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the upcoming 2024 election. He was first elected sheriff in a special election in 2014 and then won again in 2016 and 2020. Last election he faced competition, and he’s facing it again in the upcoming Democrat Primary.
So, here’s the question: With an election just around the bend (March 2024), someone will undoubtedly say that these busts by the sheriff’s office is just a political ploy to make Eddie Guerra look good in the eyes of the public.
So, what is his response to that? “It’s a criminal enterprise, and we’re going to go after all criminals. It doesn’t matter if it’s an election year or not, which is why we’ve reached out to some of the (municipalities) for help. We can’t do it alone. Besides, we have the complaints, Crime Stoppers to back us up when we say, this is a serious problem.”
Besides 8-liners, which are similar to the traditional slot machines in many ways, there are other ways to win money at these places. The silver exchange is one. Instead of winning cash, the few gamblers who actually win, win silver instead. They then walk a short distance to another establishment where the silver is traded for real money.
Call it the bait and switch to avoid the lawman, which according to the recent spate of busts by the Hidalgo County sheriff’s office doesn’t seem to be working out too well.
Another common method to get around the law, or at least try, is the use a system called “skill gaming.” Skill-gaming machines are essentially video games that offer prizes in the form of credits. These credits can then be redeemed for cash or other prizes, but the gaming establishment is not technically handing out money directly to winning gamblers.
In the end, though, trying to circumvent state gambling laws doesn’t seem to be working out too well for those busted so far.
A rose by any other name is still a rose?