Bryan Police Remove Gambling Machines Following Citizen Complaints – WTAW | 1620AM & 94.5FM

Bryan police credits citizen complaints for an undercover operation that led to removing 34 gambling machines at eight convenience stores.

A BPD news release says those machines contained a combined $64,000 dollars. Who gets to keep the money will be decided in the courts.

No arrests have been made as BPD’s investigation continues.

A spokesman tells WTAW News they are still determining ownership of the convenience stores and the owners of the machines.

News release from Bryan police:

On 10/23/2024, The Bryan Police Department’s Directed Deployment Team (DDT) executed eight (8) evidentiary search warrants throughout the City of Bryan in reference to illegal gambling machines inside local convenient stores. Based on citizen complaints received, the DDT began an investigation. In order to verify that offenses were being committed, undercover officers were utilized inside the stores where criminal cases were made for the offense of “Gambling.”

During the undercover operations, officers learned of additional gambling locations at other convenience stores. Those officers also verified that the offense of “gambling” was being committed at those stores as well.

All eight (8) search warrants accused the suspects of the offense of “Keeping a Gambling Place” and ordered the removal of the gambling machines and the pay-out machines and the contents there within.

A total of twenty-six (26) “8-liner” machines along with 8 “pay-out” machines were seized. A total of $64, 446.00 in US Currency was removed from the machines. A property hearing will be held at a later date in reference to the monies seized. Multiple units within the Bryan Police Department assisted in this operation along with the Texas Comptroller’s Office. No arrest were made, however, this investigation is still active and ongoing at this time.

The possession of an “8-liner” machine itself is not illegal. However, the legal issue arises when these machines are used for gambling purposes, specifically when they are set to payout monetary rewards. This is where the offense of “Keeping a Gambling Place” comes into play.

“Gambling place” means any real estate, building, room, tent, vehicle, boat, or other property whatsoever, one of the uses of which is the making or settling of bets, bookmaking, or the conducting of a lottery or the playing of gambling devices.