Video Gambling Machines Seized

officers seized video gambling machines from eight convenience stores in the eastern part of the county Wednesday afternoon.

The eight stores were among 12 the Sheriff’s Office investigated after receiving complaints that cash was being paid to people who won on the poker machines, Fox 5 Atlanta reported.

The machines themselves are legal, and Georgia law allows stores to offer prizes or store credit, but not cash.

Sheriff Phil Miller said people were complaining that their spouses were gambling away rent and grocery money on the machines, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported, and he hopes Wednesday’s simultaneous raids at the eight locations send the message that illegal casinos will not be tolerated in Douglas County.

Miller’s deputies raided four Shell stations, two Citgo stations and two Marathon stations with Douglasville, Lithia Springs and Austell addresses, the Douglas County Sentinel reported:

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• Shell at Highway 78 and Tralee Drive.
• Shell at Skyview Drive and South Sweetwater Road.
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• Marathon at Old Alabama and Maxham roads.
• Marathon at Kings Highway and Central Church Road.

No arrests were made Wednesday, but the investigation continues.