Police: Homes double as illegal casinos in Altamonte Springs

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. — Police in Seminole County said they have made several arrests after finding a 1,600-square-foot house that was operating like a casino.

Police in Altamonte Springs raided a home and an apartment that were across the street from each other on State Road 434.

Authorities said the homes doubled as casinos, and neighbors told Channel 9 they saw plenty of customers coming and going from the houses on a regular basis.

"Inside the houses there was poker tables that were set up, a number of chips, cards," said Robert Pelton of the Altamonte Springs Police Department.

Police said 21-year-old Andrew Poirier and 44-year-old Roberto Torres were charging big bucks for buy-ins every Friday night.

The two were arrested this week after a two-month undercover investigation.

"People were walking in with a little as a buy in as $60, all the way up to $1,500, so there were some large players that were coming," said Pelton.

Police said the men behind the operation knew what they were doing was a target for other crimes and even set up surveillance outside the house to protect themselves.

The illegal gambling operation was brought to police attention by a concerned neighbor who called CrimeLine, but other neighbors said they had no idea what was going on.

"They used to have a party on Friday, but to me, it was like any other teenagers have a party," said neighbor Laird Austin.

WFTV