Tweet
Bingo parlors targeted in gambling investigation
Bingo parlors targeted in gambling investigation
RICHFIELD, Ohio - Authorities seized bingo tickets, gambling machines, records and cash from bars, storefronts and other businesses in a raid on illegal charity gambling in northeast Ohio, officials said Tuesday.
"The purpose of charitable giving is to benefit those in need, not to line the pockets of scam artists," said Ohio Attorney General Betty Montgomery, who discussed the investigation at a news conference with local law-enforcement officials at a state crime laboratory near Akron.
About 130 places were searched in state-directed raids and dozens more were executed in coordinated raids led by local officials on Monday. More than 500 officers participated.
The raids in Cuyahoga, Lake, Lorain, Portage, Stark and Summit counties seized items including more than 200 automated gambling machines, thousands of instant bingo tickets and boxes of records.
No one has been charged, Montgomery's office said Tuesday. Montgomery spokesman Joe Case said it will take several months before indictments are issued.
Donald E. George, an attorney, denied that his instant bingo-related clients in Akron and Canton have done anything illegal. "I keep a pretty tight rein on these people," he said.
The searches were part of an investigation into instant bingo operations in which an undisclosed amount of money meant for charities was allegedly being diverted, Case said.
"Profits are supposed to go to charity, but in this case we have evidence that money raised in the name of charity wound up in somebody else's back pocket," Case said.
He said the type of gambling varies but generally involves bingo cards with pull-off tabs.
"Some of these illegal locations can pull down as much as $10,000 in a week. When you start to add that up with 25 or 30 locations, it can become millions of dollars quickly, and that money is not going to a charity," said Cuyahoga County Prosecutor William Mason in Cleveland.
Case would not say whether other investigations are ongoing in other parts of Ohio, but he did say it is a problem elsewhere.
"There is no real solid way for the state or the attorney general to ensure that the money is going to charity," he said.
At Bingo-N-Things in Lake County, a volunteer who was not identified told The (Willoughby) News-Herald that the parlor only has a few customers each day.
"We are one of the poorest bingos over here," she said. "It stinks. It's stupid. How much money can we be talking about?"
The volunteer said money from the bingo games is given to a St. Anthony's, but three church-affiliated locations with that name in the region said they don't get money from an instant bingo parlor, the newspaper reported Tuesday.
Bob Tayek, a spokesman for the eight-county Cleveland Catholic Diocese, said the diocese, following state requirements, instructs its churches to limit bingo fund raising to parish-run games.
RICHFIELD, Ohio - Authorities seized bingo tickets, gambling machines, records and cash from bars, storefronts and other businesses in a raid on illegal charity gambling in northeast Ohio, officials said Tuesday.
"The purpose of charitable giving is to benefit those in need, not to line the pockets of scam artists," said Ohio Attorney General Betty Montgomery, who discussed the investigation at a news conference with local law-enforcement officials at a state crime laboratory near Akron.
About 130 places were searched in state-directed raids and dozens more were executed in coordinated raids led by local officials on Monday. More than 500 officers participated.
The raids in Cuyahoga, Lake, Lorain, Portage, Stark and Summit counties seized items including more than 200 automated gambling machines, thousands of instant bingo tickets and boxes of records.
No one has been charged, Montgomery's office said Tuesday. Montgomery spokesman Joe Case said it will take several months before indictments are issued.
Donald E. George, an attorney, denied that his instant bingo-related clients in Akron and Canton have done anything illegal. "I keep a pretty tight rein on these people," he said.
The searches were part of an investigation into instant bingo operations in which an undisclosed amount of money meant for charities was allegedly being diverted, Case said.
"Profits are supposed to go to charity, but in this case we have evidence that money raised in the name of charity wound up in somebody else's back pocket," Case said.
He said the type of gambling varies but generally involves bingo cards with pull-off tabs.
"Some of these illegal locations can pull down as much as $10,000 in a week. When you start to add that up with 25 or 30 locations, it can become millions of dollars quickly, and that money is not going to a charity," said Cuyahoga County Prosecutor William Mason in Cleveland.
Case would not say whether other investigations are ongoing in other parts of Ohio, but he did say it is a problem elsewhere.
"There is no real solid way for the state or the attorney general to ensure that the money is going to charity," he said.
At Bingo-N-Things in Lake County, a volunteer who was not identified told The (Willoughby) News-Herald that the parlor only has a few customers each day.
"We are one of the poorest bingos over here," she said. "It stinks. It's stupid. How much money can we be talking about?"
The volunteer said money from the bingo games is given to a St. Anthony's, but three church-affiliated locations with that name in the region said they don't get money from an instant bingo parlor, the newspaper reported Tuesday.
Bob Tayek, a spokesman for the eight-county Cleveland Catholic Diocese, said the diocese, following state requirements, instructs its churches to limit bingo fund raising to parish-run games.
Comment