Police in Jefferson County raided several businesses and found what they say are illegal gambling machines.
"What we're looking at behind me is part of 220 video gambling machines officers from Jefferson County and Pine Bluff seized as a part of eight search warrants served," says Major Greg Bolin with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department.
Police found some of those machines behind the plastic covered glass and in several other locations in and around Pine Bluff.
"It was business as usual most of them kept the doors locked you couldn't just walk in. We sent in under cover officers to gain access," explained Major Bolin.
They found $11,500 in cash and arrested three people for operating a gambling house. The customers didn't get off the hook either.
When police got to the building on Brentwood there were people inside playing the machines. They were given tickets but one woman said she didn't realize it was illegal since the state has the lottery.
"This is not the lottery, the lottery is legal and highly regulated. This is gambling because we have a lottery in Arkansas does not make this type of gambling legal," says Major Bolin.
Authorities plan to keep cracking down on this illegal activity until people get the message.
Major Bolin says they issued 35 tickets to patrons. In a raid several months ago they seized about 100 machines. Once the cases go to court they'll destroy all them.
