CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte-Mecklenburg police raided an east Charlotte arcade last week, seizing nearly $38,000 in cash, dozens of illegal gaming machines and two guns from a business that officers say had been operating as an illegal gambling establishment for months.
Officers executed a search warrant at the 999 Arcade on East Independence Boulevard on May 12, according to court records obtained by WCNC Charlotte. According to the warrant’s inventory, officers seized $37,983 in cash, 62 “Fish” gaming electronic boards, 24 slot machine gaming electronic boards, 16 sweepstakes hard drives, four security camera DVRs, a Taurus 9 mm handgun, a 12-gauge shotgun, a gambling accounting system and gambling receipt and accounting record printers.
A monthslong investigation
The warrant affidavit describes an undercover investigation that began in October 2025 when a law enforcement source alerted CMPD to a new illegal casino on Independence Boulevard.
A property records search identified the parcel as owned by Charlin Property LLC, based in Hendersonville. In March 2026, CMPD obtained a copy of the property’s lease, which lists the permitted uses of the space as “Automotive, EV, motor sports sales and rentals.”…