Gambling parlors still thriving in Hernando

Another gaming room has been added to the mix, this time within the city limits.

Six weeks after authorities in Marion County shut down three parlors, more have opened across the region, including in Brooksville.

Lucky's, located at the corner of State Road 50 and Candlelight Boulevard, has been open for less than a week.

The inside of the business smells like new carpet. The walls are painted blue. There's a flat-screen television on the wall, a change machine and an automated teller machine.

The owner was not at work when a reporter visited the business Thursday afternoon. No customers were inside. An employee would not give any information, including her name.

Assistant State Attorney Mark Simpson is prosecuting cases against two gaming room owners in Marion County. A trial is expected to take place in October.

In spite of the close watch of law enforcement, gaming rooms continue to open at a fast rate across the region.

"There's so much money to be made in this business," said Simpson. "They just can't walk away."
In April, Gold Mine Sweepstakes opened at the corner of Spring Hill Drive and Anderson Snow Road. The owner was not available for comment Thursday.

There are at least eight known gaming halls in Hernando County.

Those in the business prefer their stores to be known as Internet cafes because customers are paying for time to surf the Web, they say.

Players purchase a card, which translates to credits. They use those credits on slot-machine-styled games.

Business owners equate winnings at Internet cafes with contests sponsored by McDonalds, Coca-Cola or other food and beverage companies. That is why they are legal, they argue.

Simpson, on the other hand, thinks such businesses are blatantly illegal. If you walk in with the intent to win money and can walk out potentially with cash in hand, it's gambling, he said.

The first time he tried to prosecute a gaming hall owner the case was thrown out by a judge for lack of evidence.

Simpson said it was a learning experience.

"It gave us a chance to drop back and analyze," he said. "After that, it was like, 'OK, what else do we need?'"

He promises to be better equipped and prepared the next time.

Meanwhile, more and more gaming rooms are cropping up throughout Hernando, Sumter, Lake and Citrus counties.

Those four counties combined have up to three dozen, Simpson said.

Sgt. Donna Black, a spokeswoman with the Hernando County Sheriff's Office, has not commented on whether the local parlors are being investigated.

Brooksville Police Chief George Turner said he was aware of Lucky's opening in the last week, but wouldn't talk about it further.