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Hawaii island police said they seized more than 20 machines Tuesday during an islandwide crackdown on illegal gambling.
Police said officers served nine search warrants at seven establishments and two homes connected with illegal gambling operations.
While executing the search warrants, police recovered gambling machines, gambling proceeds, records and other evidence, police said. No one was arrested.
Capt. Robert Wagner said the investigation started several months ago in part because of community complaints, including from people who complained about family members losing money to the gaming devices.
More than 20 machines were seized from five businesses in Hilo. A tally of the gaming machines seized in the four other raids was not available.
Some of the machines seized were video games similar to “Fish Hunter,” in which a player snags fish on the screen for points. The games dispensed vouchers that were allegedly redeemed for cash.
Police raided all the locations where officers suspected illegal gambling devices were in use, Wagner said.
Several agencies assisted in the investigation. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security provided experts to analyze financial documents, and the Honolulu Police Department sent officers with expertise in determining whether a gaming machine is illegal, Wagner said. The Hawaii island prosecutor’s office also assisted.
In Hilo the raids were on Kilauea Avenue and Hualani, Kalanikoa, West Lanikaula and Manono streets. In West and North Hawaii, police raided a business on Kaiwi Street and another on Mamalahoa Highway in Kamuela. The two homes that were raided were on Wana Street in Kona and Waipio Road in Honokaa.
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