News writer
At first glance, a Miami laundromat and a local restaurant seemed like ordinary businesses. But behind the hum of washing machines and the clatter of dishes, police say an underground lottery operation was in full swing.
A secretive gambling scheme known as “La Bolita” was allegedly raking in bets. Then, an anonymous tip came to investigators, sending them on a high-stakes chase that ended in handcuffs.
Anonymous complaint starts investigation
The North Miami Beach Police received an anonymous complaint that said illegal gambling known as “La Bolita” was taking place inside a coin laundry located on Northeast 167th Street in North Miami Beach, according to an arrest report obtained by NBC Miami.
For those unfamiliar, “La Bolita” is an illegal underground lottery system. This system allows people to place bets on legitimate state lotteries, authorities said.
On Wednesday, March 5, police officers executed a search warrant at the laundromat. During that time, police found 38-year-old Maria Victoria Martinez had full control of the gambling booth where illegal bets were taking place, officials said.
In addition, authorities said they found a white board used for keeping track of lottery drawing results, a computer that was being used to input bets, bundles of cash, and a printer used for gambling receipts.
Arrest were made
At the time the search warrant was executed, police said they arrested Martinez.
During their investigation, authorities said they received information that an illegal lottery was being held at a restaurant located on Northeast 19th Avenue.
Investigators sent an undercover detective to that restaurant with $10. He placed a wager with 36-year-old Juan Carlos Lora in the restaurant. In addition, the detective learned that Lora was not only taking Bolita bets, but also taking sports bets.
A search warrant was executed at the restaurant, and investigators said they allegedly found TV screens displaying lottery results, bundles of cash, three slot machines, a computer used to input bets, and a receipt printer.
Based on that information, authorities arrested Lora also. Both Lora and Martinez were booked into jail on multiple charges, including promoting or conducting a lottery, bookmaking, and manufacturing, selling, or possessing a gambling device, according to officials.
The history of Bolita
In Spanish, the word “Bolita” means little ball. Bolita is a simple draw game where players buy tickets for numbers between one and 100. An organizer of the game then reaches into a sack containing 100 wooden or ivory balls, and whatever number he pulls out is the winner.
The game was thought to have started in France and quickly spread through Spanish-speaking communities. When it came to America, it became popular in the South, particularly in Florida. It found a home in the large working-class Hispanic communities of Tampa Bay and Ybor City. When it started, it would typically pay 80-1 and cost just a few cents to play.
As the game moved on, organizers found more sophisticated ways to pick the winning numbers, like using numbers from the Cuban lottery or even the Florida Lottery, which seems to be what was happening in the case above.
Enjoy playing the Florida Lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.
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