On Tuesday, March 5, 2024, the GBI’s Commercial Gambling Unit, along with the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office, and in cooperation with the Georgia Lottery Corporation executed search warrants at nine business locations in the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit for violations of Georgia’s gambling laws.
Search warrants were executed at the following:
- Hop In, 7890 Veterans Parkway, Columbus, GA
- Hop In, 4499 Warm Springs Rd, Columbus, GA
- Hop In, 1400 Double Churches Rd, Columbus, GA
- Lotto Mart, 400 3rd Avenue, Columbus, GA
- Citgo Quik Mart, 314 5th Street, Columbus, GA
- Hop In, 3875 St. Mary’s Road, Columbus, GA
- Hop In, 5757 Buena Vista Road, Columbus, GA
- Hop In, 3021 Macon Road, Columbus, GA
- Hop In, 871 U.S. Hwy 27, Cataula, GA
During the course of a lengthy investigation, agents discovered businesses operating Coin Operated Amusement Machines (COAMS) where customers were receiving cash payouts for winning credits. In Georgia, COAMS must be properly licensed by the Georgia Lottery and credits may only be redeemed for non-cash prizes such as lottery tickets and/or store merchandise.
In total, more than 40 agents, investigators, and police officers launched the raids in a simultaneous and coordinated fashion. Multiple arrests are pending as a result.
