Texas Steps Up Fight Against Illegal Gambling with More Than a Dozen Raids
Date: 2024-09-25 Author: Leon Pierce Categories: EVENTS
Texas and federal authorities are constantly fighting a variety of crimes, including illegal gambling. Often, these operations work in conjunction with state regulators to shut down gambling operations that can pose a public safety risk and are sometimes associated with violent crime. One such raid in southeast Houston on Sept. 24 saw significant police activity, according to local news reports.
Large-scale raids in Houston
While details of the operation are limited, KHOU 11 reports that 17 Houston-area establishments were targeted. The actions are part of an investigation into corruption and possible violations of gambling laws. The operation involves multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Federal Investigation (FBI), the Houston Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Harris County Constable’s Office. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office and the Houston Fire Department also joined the raids.
“Today, the Houston FBI, in conjunction with our partners at the Harris County Constable’s Office, the Harris County Fire Department, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Houston Fire Department, the Houston Police Department, and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, are conducting an extensive, court-ordered operation at multiple locations throughout Houston,” the FBI said in a statement.
The agency says the operation does not pose a threat to public safety, but it expects an increased law enforcement presence in the area.
Continuing the Fight Against Illegal Gambling
West Texas A&M University confirmed this week that it has blocked access to online gambling from university-owned devices and internet networks. The decision came after a report found that the problem gambling rate among students was 6%, significantly higher than the national average of 3%.
As a result, the university has completely shut down access to iGaming sites, restricting students, faculty, and staff from accessing such resources through their networks and devices such as laptops and computers.
The events of the summer highlight the importance of this issue: an illegal gambling site was the site of a robbery and a shooting that left one person injured and another dead. Three men were arrested for their involvement in the incident, which took place in Dallas in July.
So the efforts of Texas authorities to combat illegal gambling continue, demonstrating their determination to stop this type of crime and protect the community.
