Police Seize Gambling Machines After Complaints
Lafayette police plan to aggressively investigate complaints of illegal gambling at area businesses after seizing 16 gambling machines Monday afternoon from an arcade game repair shop.
The video poker machines removed from the Lucky Dog Pass, 500 N. Ninth St., are being held as evidence in a secure, city-owned facility, detective Sgt. Jim Taul said.
No one had been arrested in the investigation as of late Tuesday, but the case has been forwarded to the Tippecanoe County prosecutor's office for review, he said.
Taul said the Lafayette Police Department received several complaints recently from Lucky Dog patrons who alleged they have lost money playing the video poker machines.
Taul said players would receive 20 points for each dollar they fed the machine. They could then quit after a net gain in "credits" and cash out. For example, 800 points would mean a payout of $40, he said.
"We will start following up on more gambling complaints and checking other businesses," Taul said.
The investigation started Monday morning after Chief Don Roush said someone visited Mayor Tony Ros-warski's office complaining of the machines.
Roush decided to drive by, saw that the business was open and walked in.
"I asked about the gambling machines, and I was advised that they were there," he said.
He described the Lucky Dog as a repair shop for pinball machines and other arcade games. The video poker machines were toward the back, near an office, plugged in for use, he said.
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