Manatee County commissioners moved forward with a proposed ordinance Tuesday, Aug. 25, targeting illegal gambling arcades across the county. If ultimately adopted, the measure would give the Manatee County Sheriff's Office additional tools to shut down operations in unincorporated Manatee County.

The proposed ordinance would allow cease-and-desist orders, civil citations and court action against operators of so-called "adult arcades" that use simulated gambling devices to run commercial casino-style operations. Operators who maintain five or more gambling devices, have prior violations, or ignore a cease-and-desist letter could face second-degree misdemeanor charges carrying up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine.

The proposal mirrors language from a 2021 Marion County ordinance, Suncoast Searchlight reported.

Commission Chairman Tal Siddique, who has led the push since September 2025, said the goal is prevention as much as enforcement.

"I just don't want them here," Siddique said. "I wanted to keep it simple, and the goal was to clean up our urban core from businesses that are skirting the inability of the state to police this."

A joint investigation by Suncoast Searchlight and the Bradenton Herald in summer 2025 identified more than 20 establishments operating across the region in open defiance of state law. The Manatee County Sheriff's Office estimated that about 25 such operations were active in the county as of March 10.

The investigation found the unregulated businesses target fixed-income seniors with unregulated odds, sometimes refusing to pay jackpots. Over five years, law enforcement responded to hundreds of calls at these locations for burglaries, fights, stolen cars and drug overdoses, according to the Searchlight's reporting.

Siddique described the businesses as "pop-ups." He said law enforcement officials compared combating them to a game of whack-a-mole because of the lengthy legal process required to dismantle operations that often result in only misdemeanor arrests.

Commissioner Bob McCann asked why the board was "kicking the can down the road" and relying on the state for action. Commissioner Jason Bearden said he believed the board wanted some form of regulation.

The county submitted the proposal to the Florida Gaming Control Commission for review. The Florida Gaming Control Commission suggested language changes, but commissioners decided to advance the ordinance essentially as drafted. No one on the board opposed moving forward.

The first of two required public hearings is expected Sept. 22. Residents would be able to attend and comment before any final vote.