This is one way to earn cash.
A backyard volleyball gambling ring that raked in hundreds of thousands in illegal cash has been busted at a Massachusetts home, police said Friday.
Organizers staged the operation — less than a block from Milford police headquarters — with two full-size paved courts, picnic tables and a concession stand with fried food and booze, Milford Deputy Chief Robbie Tusino told The Post.
“It felt like I was at Foxwoods,” Tusino said, referring to the Connecticut-based casino resort.
“I’m amazed it’s going to get to that point — and there’s a lot of money changing hands,” he told 7 News Boston.
About 100 gamblers each night bet on the six-on-six regional amateur volleyball matches, which organizers promote aggressively on social media, Tusino said.
Gamblers place bets on who will win and how many points are scored while playing card games like poker on the side, he said.
On Saturday, investigators seized $10,000 in cash and arrested two suspects after neighbors complained about too much traffic, according to police.
Police busted a large backyard volleyball court — less than a block from police headquarters — in Milford, Mass. Milford Police Department
Zoila Castro was reportedly arrested and charged with selling liquor without a license.Milford Police Department
Investigators arrested two suspects with the help of a confidential informant after neighbors complained about too much traffic.
“There’s about a hundred people there every night,” said neighbor Justin Ortega. “There are many people there. It’s illegal, you can’t do it here. They got a spot for that. Not the backyard.”
In total, promoters made nearly $150,000 in one weekend, according to Tusino, who said backyard sports betting has likely been going on for about a year.
“There are two paved, professional-sized courts, they keep good books – they’re professionals,” Tusino said. “I believe it started as a healthy thing and, like all criminal enterprises, it turned into a money-making event that became its own entity.”
Zoila Castro was arrested and charged with selling liquor without a license, police said. The unidentified homeowner was also arrested on Saturday.
About 100 gamblers a night bet on everything from volleyball to card games using tournament appearances as a front, police said. Milford Police Department
The meltdown comes amid a surge in popularity for the sport — as the University of Nebraska volleyball team set a world record for most fans ever at a women’s sporting event.
Police, who monitored the house for two months before raiding the court, say they are now playing hardball.
“It really just has to stop. We just want it to stop,” said Tusino. “There are better ways to make money.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
