INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A nearly yearlong state crackdown on illegal gambling devices has yielded only a handful of the thousands of illicit poker and slot machines that some lawmakers predicted the campaign would uncover.

After 11 months and $2.5 million spent, Indiana's new illegal gambling czar says his 15 investigators have seized 760 machines — or less than half the number that went online last week when Hoosier Park in Anderson opened its state-sanctioned, track-side casino.

When the crackdown was ordered last year, Republican leaders in the General Assembly promised the effort to haul the devices out of taverns, truck stops and other sites would more than offset the 4,000 new slot machines lawmakers authorized for the state's two horse tracks.

A day after lawmakers adjourned in April 2007, Gov. Mitch Daniels, a Republican, said the crackdown would target "the illegal and very exploitative machines, which number at least 12,000 in Indiana today."

"Armed with these new tools, they will take out far more machines than are allowed in," Daniels added.

Legislators needed money last year to bankroll homeowner rebates intended to soften a looming property tax hike, and the state's two horse tracks agreed to provide $500 million for their "racino" licenses.

At the time, Senate President David Long described the accompanying assault on illegal gambling as an attempt to "draw a line in the sand" and eradicate "a scourge on our state."

Legislators guessed that as many as 20,000 to 30,000 illegal video poker consoles and "Cherry Master" electronic slots were picking Hoosiers' pockets a year ago.

"I would be surprised if there had been 30,000 out there. I would say easily 10,000 plus," said Larry Rollins, who left the Indiana State Police last year to head the state's new gaming control division.

That task force, which is under the Indiana Gaming Commission, cost about $1.5 million to establish and has a $900,000 annual budget. It recorded its first bust in September, seizing 33 machines from a storage unit in Paoli, a small town northeast of Louisville, Ky.

In addition to total 760 seized machines, Rollins said companies that distribute pool tables, jukeboxes and other amusement devices have told his team they voluntarily shipped another 2,000 illegal gambling machines out of Indiana.

Long, a Fort Wayne Republican, suggests many more machines have been shifted out of sight to avoid prosecution.

"I have been told that a significant number of machines have quietly disappeared as a result of the passage of this new law," Long said in a statement. "That would include truck stops and other locations beyond taverns."

With Indiana Downs set to open its new track-side casino before the end of the month, it's doubtful lawmakers can deliver on their pledge of a net reduction in gaming yet this year.

But Daniels insists the state has struck a blow against a sinister industry.

"No one knows the exact number that were in the state, but it's clear thousands have come out. Our crackdown has been effective and important in reducing illegal gambling activities and will continue," the governor said in a statement.

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Information from: The Times, http://www.thetimesonline.com