Cape Coral authorities seize 60 illegal slots disguised as bingo

Florida gambling regulators and Cape Coral police seized 60 illegal slot machines from a business masquerading as a bingo hall. The Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC) combined forces with Cape Coral Police Department officers in the operation, dubbed "Operation Going Downtown." The seizure occurred at Uptown Bingo, located at 2708 Santa Barbara Boulevard, Suite 108.

FGCC recently partnered with Cape PD to confiscate similar devices. The commission warns that adding bingo elements to electronic gambling machines does not make them lawful. Commissioner Peter Cuderman noted that criminals exploit Floridians by falsely branding illegal machines as legal bingo. Police Chief Anthony Sizemore emphasized the broader threat posed by such unlawful businesses, which undermine legitimate charitable gaming and may facilitate further criminal activity.

Under Florida law, bingo and instant bingo can only be played with paper cards for those aged 18 and above. Electronic devices with chance-based games, including slot-style reels, are illegal. Only specific charities, nonprofits, veterans' groups, and qualifying residential communities can legally conduct paid bingo with prizes.

The seized devices at Uptown Bingo violated these regulations as they displayed chance-based results via reels or similar imagery. Previous major seizures include 428 machines and $540,000 in August 2025, and 111 machines and $36,888 in October 2025 by Cape Coral police and gaming regulators.