Decatur, GA – On Tuesday, January 24, 2017, the Commercial Gambling Unit of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the DeKalb County Police Department, the Georgia Department of Revenue, in cooperation with the Georgia Lottery Corporation, executed search warrants in DeKalb County for violations of Georgia’s commercial gambling laws.

Eight (8) business locations were served with search warrants related to crimes of commercial gambling and monetary assets gained from the illegal use of gaming machines. All of the locations are currently licensed to operate Coin Operated Amusement Machines (COAM).  During the course of the investigation, agents discovered customers were receiving cash payouts for winning credits.  In Georgia, credits may only be redeemed for lottery tickets and/or store merchandise.

Search warrants were executed at the following business locations in Decatur:

Glenwood Grocery, 3880 Glenwood Road

Big Daddy’s Grocery, 3893 Glenwood Road

Discount Food Mart, 3923 Glenwood Road

Stop N Shop Smoke Shop, 3359 Glenwood Road

Citgo Gas Station, 4052 Glenwood Road

Chevron Gas Station, 4047 Glenwood Road

Valero Gas Station, 4530 Glenwood Road

Texaco Gas Station, 4544 Glenwood Road

In total, more than 80 Agents, Investigators, and Police Officers participated in serving the search warrants. Multiple arrests are pending. 

Since it was established in 2013, the GBI’s Commercial Gambling Unit, along with state and local agencies, has executed 197 search warrants, made 118 arrests, and seized over $4.5 million dollars for violations of the commercial gambling laws.  In 2016, administrative fines imposed by the Georgia Lottery for COAM violations totaled over $2 million dollars.

Cindy Ledford - Special Agent in Charge | Commercial Gambling Unit | 404/270-8491