Orange County Shuts Down Illegal Gambling Operation Disguised as Garage Door Business
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office shut down what authorities say was an illegal gambling operation on West Colonial Drive after a six-month investigation. The company was called LiftMaster Garage Door Repair, but investigators say it actually operated unregulated slot machines that were not monitored by the Florida Gaming Commission. According to MEPs, this allows operators to change odds, control payouts and take advantage of players.
After a six-month investigation, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office shut down an illegal gambling operation. Disguised as “LiftMaster Garage Door Repair” on West Colonial Dr., the company secretly operated unregulated slot machines that were not supervised by the… pic.twitter.com/teMkMHgWHk
– Orange County Sheriff’s Office (@OrangeCoSheriff) December 5, 2025
During the raid, deputies seized 46 slot machines and $25,220 in cash. Two men, Khalil Al Ghanim, 51, and Saif Eddin Ghaith, 45, were arrested and face charges including RICO (racketeer influenced and corrupt organizations), running an illegal gambling house and using a two-way communications device for illegal activities.
Orange County targets illegal gambling in statewide crackdown
The crackdown comes as state and local agencies step up efforts to combat unlicensed gaming operations across Florida. In December, the Florida Gaming Control Commission and Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey destroyed 147 illegal slot machines collected from several locations in Brevard County. Days earlier, authorities confiscated 22 machines and just over $25,000 from three Port Orange businesses.
In August, the Florida Gaming Control Commission reported seizing 250 illegal machines along with about $200,000 in cash. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier called for tougher penalties, saying in a video shared on »
Authorities say the state has seized hundreds of unlicensed slot machines and large sums of cash in recent months as part of broader efforts to combat illegal gambling.
Featured Image: Orange County Sheriff’s Office via
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