Arizona coffee shops busted for illegal gambling

Normally, you would expect a coffee shop to offer a suitable range of drinks such as espressos, lattes and flat whites. They may also have other beverages like tea and hot chocolate on the menu; they may also serve up a mouth-watering selection of freshly baked items. Some – those that like to branch out a little – may even make a selection of sandwiches.

However in the United States, Arizona’s Department for Gambling has uncovered multiple ‘sweepstake cafes’ that are serving up a slice of illegal gambling with their array of coffees.

According to first-hand reports, investigators were given warrants to search six separate premises in the Phoenix area. These three included coffee shops, two residential addresses and one storage facility and were issued after undercover officers had scouted out the locations to confirm that numerous people were using these locations to gamble illicitly.

The coffee shops doubled up as internet cafes and would offer patrons the chance to try their ‘luck’ at various games.

“They’ve always talked to me, you know, but I just tell them; ‘No, I’m not interested,’” said Kenneth Standord, who works in close proximity to one of the businesses that was raided, the Barber Shop Internet Cafe. He claims that numerous customers have tried to coax him over the road to play.

The agents recovered in excess of fifty devices linked to gambling as well as computers, televisions, surveillance equipment, motorised vehicles and firearms.

Over $20,000 in cash was also seized during the operation.

Investigators have announced that one Eric Stelljes has been implicated and that he could be facing allegations of gambling violations in Arizona for the second time.

“We wanted to send a clear message to the operators of these shops that they are on our radar,” commented Attorney General Mark Brnovich after the raids took place.

“If you are a criminal intent on breaking our state gambling laws, this is not a very good time to be doing it,” he added.