Betting Operations Raided; 20 Arrested
A “chain-store” bookmaking operation that handled thousands of dollars of horse wagers on dissolvable paper was closed down by Los Angeles vice squad detectives Friday afternoon at the height of betting activity, police said.
Detectives made simultaneous raids at 23 locations and arrested 20 people on suspicion of felony bookmaking but were seeking the “main man” in charge of the operation, Detective Kurt Joachimstaler said. He said the organization has been in operation since 1985, “but just recently started opening several new spots.”
Most of the spots were in houses used only for betting, but a few vacant stores were also used, Joachimstaler said. “It was a close race in many spots to get in there before the paper dissolved,” he said.
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