15 Suspects Identified in Hawaii Gambling Ring Police Swoop

Law enforcement officers have announced they have busted a large illegal gambling ring in Hawaii. With tens of machines and thousands in cash seized, the operation has been hailed as a huge success.

Local law enforcement teams worked together with federal authorities to carry out the raid which resulted in 15 suspects being slapped with federal charges. Only eight of the suspects are currently in custody with the remaining seven still large.

Tough gambling laws

Although states in the US are now permitted to legalise gambling, Hawaii hasn’t chosen to do so. Together with Utah it retains some of the toughest laws on gambling in the whole of the US.

Unlike many other states, Hawaii does not permit any kind of gambling at all. This means it’s only one of two states which doesn’t have any type of legalised gambling; no lottery, no scratch cards, no racetracks and no casinos. There’s not even any sports betting.

In the past a number of individuals have been caught breaking this law and being dealt with accordingly by the law.

The law does allow social betting which means that individuals only leave with their own personal winnings and no establishment benefits from what they do. There are also restrictions around where this type of social gambling can take place. Bars, restaurants, hotels, beaches, church or any other public area are all banned.

Criminal Charges 

The latest bust was an attempt to keep Hawaii completely free of any organised gabling activity. The raid took place over two separate residences and the information seized led the 15 individuals being hit with federal charges.

Eight of those individuals were in custody, enabling them to be charged almost straight away but seven are still at large and have not yet been arrested. In total, $150,000 in cash was taken away with no fewer than 60 gaming machines.

Law enforcement agencies have not released the names of the individuals who have been charged but the US Attorney confirmed that there has been two criminal complaints, three indictments and a civil lawsuit levied against the 15.

Some of the charges include “conducting, financing, managing, supervising, directing, or owning a gambling business”. Other charges filed include possession of a firearm for the purposes of drug trafficking and possessing a controlled substance with the intention to distribute.