Authorities launched their probe into IL Villagio in early 2025 after residents reported that the venue seemed to operate more like a casino than a recreational center
State prosecutors revealed last week that a senior entertainment center just outside The Villages served as the center of a huge illegal gambling operation. This scheme channeled millions of dollars through fake businesses and offshore accounts.
Florida Elders’ Hangout Uncovered as $24 Million Underground Casino
The Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office teamed up with the Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC) and local police to charge three individuals linked to the operation at IL Villagio Senior Entertainment Center. Investigators claim the facility, which advertised itself as an arcade, functioned as a full-fledged gambling house equipped with about 200 slot-like machines.
Officials started investigating IL Villagio in early 2025 when locals complained the establishment looked more like a casino than a place for recreation. Undercover agents from FGCC later found rows of gaming machines, cash exchanges, and long queues of older adults waiting to play.
A mid-July operation uncovered 190 machines and about $348,000 in cash. A follow-up search at a nearby storage facility revealed additional devices ready to use. Financial experts tracked over $24 million moving through the business from January 2023 to July 2025, with much of it concealed through intricate transfers…