Special investigations officers raid suspected gambling den in Central Oak Cliff

Photo by Getty Images.

Officers from the Dallas Police Department’s Special Investigations Division raided a suspected game room in Central Oak Cliff last month.

Police responded to the 2700 block of Pierce Street on Feb. 28 after receiving complaints of illegal gambling occurring at the location, a spokesperson for the department said.

According to police one person was detained during the raid, but was later released.

The investigation is ongoing.

A video posted to social media shows a dozen officers holding guns entering a building, although the video was posted March 13. The Advocate has not yet confirmed that the video is associated with the Feb. 28 raid.

The raid comes at a time when city officials are looking for solutions to work with card houses throughout the city.

City staff is working with the City Attorney’s office to draft a new land use category that will allow card houses to operate throughout Dallas. Council members were directed to brainstorm a path forward after a year of legal stalemate between the city and card houses that has resulted in at least $550,000 in legal fees.

City Council member Chad West voiced support for a “business friendly” path forward, and warned that criminalizing card houses would potentially push the businesses underground, “where they would operate illegally and in potentially dangerous settings.”

In 2021, an illegal gambling room in Oak Cliff was discovered after a shooting resulted a man being fatally shot in the throat.