Things have been pretty busy as it pertains to law enforcement and the gambling scene in Georgia. Per a recent local report, an alleged illegal gambling operation was busted inside a Georgia gas station in late November. Three men, Faiyaz Khimani, Feroz Khimani and Sriram Venteru, are facing multiple drug-related charges. Meanwhile, East Point Police and Fulton County SWAT uncovered an illegal gambling operation a few days later, resulting in the arrest of seven individuals, another local outlet reported. The raid, initiated by an anonymous top, revealed guns, drugs, cash, and poker tables inside the building, which was located on Sylvan Road.
For this report, SBS will be going over the latest gambling notes coming from the Peach State, along with some additional notes and insights you can only find at SBS.
As noted in the same article, the owner of the gas station, who was not there, will face the same drug charges as the others, as well as a charge of keeping a gambling place. This is according to the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities said the arrests come after a multi-month vice investigation that determined the store was illegally paying players. “They have come in here and gambled and got monetary U.S. currency payouts,” Major John Norrod with the sheriff’s office.
Owning and operating the gambling machines is not a crime, the report notes, as long as the customer is paid out in store credit. According to the sheriff’s office, the gas station, a Texaco off Tara Boulevard, paid out in cash. They said tens of thousands of dollars have gone in and out of their accounts. “There are a lot of stores in the county that do it right, but some do not, and this is what happens when you don’t do it right,” Norrod said.
The sheriff’s office was not able to share exactly how much money was paid out to players on the nine coin-operated machines inside the gas station. However, they said many of the tips they receive regarding illegal payouts come from the Georgia Lottery. During the gambling investigation, detectives also determined the store was selling illegal THC products, the sheriff’s office said.
Noted in the other report, Fulton County law enforcement had their hands full conducting this anti-gambling operation that included help from anonymous sources. “Yes, we received some anonymous tips in reference to that location,” Chief Shawn Buchanan of the East Point Police Department said in the article to the local reporter. The investigation began with a tip from the public, which led to a 30-day surveillance operation by the East Point Police. Detectives monitored the building’s activity and noted that it was unoccupied during the day but attracted large crowds late at night.
“We knew that the building was not occupied during the daytime, and around 12 o’clock at night, one o’clock in the morning, all of a sudden, 100 people would show up. So we knew some illegal activity was going on,” Chief Buchanan said.
On a Friday evening, East Point Police, with assistance from the Fulton County SWAT team, executed a search warrant and arrested seven individuals believed to be running the operation. All suspects are charged with felony commercial gambling. Chief Buchanan then emphasized the importance of maintaining safety in East Point. “We do not want illegal gambling or illegal knockouts going on in our city. So it’s very, very important that we keep those illegal activities outside the city of East Point,” he said. Moreover, the investigation is ongoing, and police have indicated that there could be additional arrests as they continue to gather evidence.
Wrapping up 2025, Georgia is one of the few states that have not yet legalized sports betting, making it “something of an outcast” amid gambling’s acceleration in the United States. The Peach State has the eighth-largest population of all states and has the opportunity to enjoy a successful gaming market, the report says. However, its traditional southern heritage has proved to be a significant roadblock for pro-gaming legislators, who have been outnumbered at nearly every turn.
Georgia, as has been covered in this space before, is one of the country’s most anti-gambling states. The only permissible forms are the state-run lottery, bingo games, and raffles. That does not mean that legislators have not tried before. A series of attempts have been made to flip the state’s position, but to no avail. However, there have been efforts made earlier this year and next that could flip things
Once you are all up to speed in relation to the latest gambling notes coming from Georgia, make sure to check out the excellent array of information available to you at SBS. Of course, for even more updates coming from the Peach State, make sure to peruse the Georgia sports betting guide, which goes over all kinds of fantastic reports coming from the region. Moreover, for those who are interested and qualify, the best bonus betting sites rundown is a must-read page that covers all kinds of great insights, including a catalogue of the latest and greatest welcome bonus offers. Finally, if you are looking for some new options and are eligible, the BetOnline sportsbook review breakdown is a must-read page. Here, you can find out about the latest gaming updates coming from the site and beyond.
About the Author
Chris Boline is a Reno-based business development professional and freelance sports writer with over a decade of experience covering the NBA G League, Los Angeles Chargers, and national football and basketball. His expertise spans the NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and motorsports, along with topical news, marketing, and promotional content. A proud University of Nevada graduate, Chris earned both his BS in Management & Economics (2015) and MBA (2023). He is active in the Reno community, serving on boards such as the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET, and the College of Business Alumni Association, where he was past president (2022–23). Notable honors include: - Two-time University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year honoree (2017, 2021) - 2021 NCET Professional Services Organization of the Year (with TAC) - 2016–17 Reno Bighorns MVP, awarded by the Sacramento Kings - Nevada Press Association Award for Best Sports Column (2015) - Former Editor-in-Chief of The Nevada Sagebrush Chris blends his passion for sports with a strong background in sales, marketing, and community engagement.
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