(AsiaGameHub) – Lexington County police and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division have arrested 51-year-old W. L. H. Sr., whom they suspect ran an illegal gambling operation.
The arrest took place on March 9, 2026, and the man was immediately charged with possession of an illegal gambling machine—described as “unlawful possession and operation of a slot, video, vending machine or gambling device and unlawful games and betting.”
This final charge is significant because while police can technically bring unlawful betting charges, they rarely do so. The arrest happened a week after a search warrant was executed on March 2.
18 Gambling Machines Seized as Part of the Operation
During the search, police found 18 gambling machines at the suspect’s home—specifically Pot O Gold devices. These machines can run a range of games of chance, including keno, blackjack, and casino-style poker.
South Carolina has been fairly conservative in its gambling regulation, which has led to the rise of underground operations like the one run by H. Sr.
In February, Senate Bill 444 attempted to introduce online sports betting regulation in the state, but it faced opposition from lawmakers.
In-state sports betting is available at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort in Cherokee, Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River in Murphy, and Catawba Two Kings Casino in Kings Mountain.
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