An iinvestigator from the Smith County Sheriff's Office removes an illegal gaming machine from the Express Beer and Wine store. Officials served warrants and conducted a raid at the Minute Stop Convenience Store and Express Beer and Wine in the 11800 block of Texas State Highway 64 on Thursday Feb. 8, 2018 in Tyler, Texas. (LouAnna Campbell/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

One person was arrested and at least five were issued citations for gambling Thursday at two businesses in Smith County. Officials also served a warrant at the owners’ residence. 

The Smith County Sheriff’s Office served warrants about 2 p.m. and raided the Minute Stop Valero convenience store and Express Beer and Wine in the 11800 block of State Highway 64 on suspicion of operating illegal gambling operations.

Officials also served a warrant at the owners’ residence in the 600 block of West Heritage Drive where they believe records of the money are kept. 

The sheriff’s office previously sent cease and desist orders to at least 54 establishments and said there was compliance for several months.

However, officials said these two businesses, which are owned by the same people, started up again.

Smith said the sheriff’s office learned about the games about six weeks ago and sent undercover agents to play the games, who determined the games were illegal.

Officials seized 10 gaming machines, five from the convenience store and five from the beer and wine store.

“We are seizing all the games and all the proceeds from the games,” Smith said. “The funds were commingled with the cash registers so we are seizing all the cash and the cash registers at the establishments.”

Smith urged the public to stop playing the games. 

“We were serious when we said we would shut down the illegal gaming,” Smith said. “If you put cash in a machine and play a game of chance and get cash back, it’s gambling,” 

He said his office will keep doing investigations and keep making cases because of the other crimes that gambling brings to the county.

The names of the owners and those arrested have not been released. 

Smith said the money inside the machines has not been counted, but investigators would be processing the rest of the evidence and he would release the results later.