RPD Conducts Undercover Operations Targets Illegal Cafe

Published: 6/1/2017

Riverside, CA – On June 1, 2017, members of the Riverside Police Department’s Special Investigations Bureau Vice and Gang Units served a search warrant for an illegal gambling business being operated as an “Internet Café.”

The business, located at 4537 La Sierra, claimed to be a retailer of prepaid cellular phones but had 20 computers with “Vegas Style” video gambling games. Two employees of the business were present during the search warrant and were issued citations for running an illegal gambling operation. There were ten patrons inside during the search warrant and all ten were issued citations for playing illegal “Vegas style” computer games. All computers were collected as evidence.

Prior to the service of the search warrants, Vice detectives conducted several undercover operations which identified and documented the illegal activity that occurred within the business.

On June 25, 2015, The California Supreme Court ruled that computerized “sweepstakes” games offered at Internet cafes are the equivalent of slot machines that are illegal under Penal Code 330.1.