Agents seize 50 video poker machines in raids

North Carolina state agents raided the home of a businessman and confiscated at least 50 video poker machines scattered in businesses around Buncombe County third weekend of November.

Authorities said that an investigation has been going on for a year and a half, leading to the raids of 24 locations November 14 and 15. The raid included another businessman's home and a storage warehouse, according to Alcohol Law Enforcement agents.

ALE agents received public complaint which led to them zeroing in on a gambling operation that involved illegal cash payouts from video poker.

"Mainly complaints (came) from the public, especially people who had family members that were putting hundreds of dollars into video poker machines and losing it," said western district supervisor Ron Kaylor.

Kaylor said that the 50 agents and two investigators from the Buncombe County district attorney's office were able to retrieve $2 million in suspected illegal proceeds.

No one has been charged yet in the case.

The state of North Carolina is beginning to phase out video poker, and will completely ban the game on July 2007. Giving away cash from the machines are illegal, but a winner is allowed to receive a prize whose worth does not exceed $10.