TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) – It’s a covert operation hidden in plain sight. These businesses advertise big wins, but one Ohio official says the only outcome is a major loss.
He’s talking about illegal casinos. It’s an issue that is happening across the state, including Northwest Ohio. Last fall, a Toledo business on Reynolds Road and two businesses in Oregon were raided for allegedly operating as illegal casinos.
Since 2015, the Ohio Casino Control Commission has confiscated or disabled 7,500 slot machines. That’s more than two each day on average, and 1,500 more than all of the slot machines at Ohio’s four legal casinos combined.
Matthew T. Schuler, the executive director of the Ohio Casino Control Commission, said even though there has been great progress, the work is not over yet.
“There is much, much more work to do,” Schuler said.
Schuler said gaming is a highly regulated industry because of the exchange and free flow of money.
There are four legal casinos in Ohio, including Toledo’s Hollywood Casino. They must comply with strict guidelines so that customers are protected.
“That it’s not rigged, that if you do win, that there is a prompt payout and everything is accounted for, and there’s no element of fraud or potential exploitation,” Schuler said.
On the other hand, Schuler said illegal casinos have no concern for anything as long as people keep playing and keep paying.
“They would like you to empty out your social security checks or any type of means and they will do nothing to stop you from burning through all of that,” Schuler said. “We’ve heard some pretty tragic stories from children of elderly parents who visit these places and wind up being completely broke.”
One woman was indicted on seven felony charges related to operating “Talk-N-Skills,” the store on Reynolds Road that was raided by the Ohio Casino Control Commission for allegedly being an illegal casino.
An indictment from Lucas County Common Pleas shows that Holly Hirsch was indicted for three counts of violation of casino gaming laws, one count of confidential information, and two counts of money laundering.
She has pleaded not guilty.
While the Ohio Casino Control Commission does not comment on specific cases, Schuler said many Ohioans go into illegal casinos without knowing. The businesses seem legitimate, advertising games of skill and cash prizes.
Schuler said in reality, these are not games of skill, but unregulated slot machines. Offering cash prizes for these types of unlicensed games is illegal. He said illegal casinos have rigged machines that ensure customers do not get any payment, or only a small payment.
He said part of this scheme is that the business does not pay its fair share of taxes for the amount of cash it brings in.
As a rule of thumb, Schuler said, if it’s not one of Ohio’s four legal casinos or seven legal racinos with video lotteries, chances are it is an illegal operation.
“Don’t go in, they will take advantage of you,” Schuler said.
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