The Washington State Gambling Commission has revealed that its agents managed to arrest four people in Washington State on Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th May 2018 who were involved in an illegal soccer betting ring.
According to the commission, Officials were tipped off after complaints that gambling was taking place at a number of businesses and the subsequent investigation confirmed that at least five, which included a Taco Restaurant, were facilitating or accepting bets on Mexican matches.
The ring was operating out of Wenatchee and taking in hundreds of wagers per week on Mexican matches. It is alleged that the leader was keeping up to $2,000 each week – almost one third of the wagered money.
After conducting raids on the sites, police seized two vehicles and more than $65,000 in cash. They also froze almost $128,000 in bank accounts.
Those arrested were three men, aged 43, 49 and 52 who have been charged with second-degree professional gambling, leading organized crime as well as profiteering. A 53 year old woman was also arrested on a gambling charge.
Washington has strict gambling laws in place so as to ensure that wagers to customers are only offered by licensed operators.
Although sports betting as a whole is illegal in Washington, that could possibly change if the Supreme Court overturns the current sport betting ban on state levels.
It is, as yet, not clear whether those who have been charged have obtained attorneys to defend them.
