SCHERERVILLE, Ind. – Indiana State Excise Police officers cited a Lake County bar on three charges related to more than $200,000 in illegal gambling by more than 400 people on Sunday’s Super Bowl.
Excise police are continuing to investigate Spike's Lakeside Inn, 21 E. Joliet Street, Schererville, after receiving an anonymous tip that the bar was engaging in unlawful gambling.
Officers preliminarily cited the bar on three charges related to violations of the Alcoholic Beverage Code yesterday: public nuisance (to-wit: promoting professional gambling, a Class D felony), failure to maintain good character and reputation, and violation of the scope of a Type II gaming endorsement.
Their investigation is still ongoing and additional administrative-law charges against the bar are possible, as well as criminal charges against those who participated in the illegal gambling. Participants could face charges of unlawful gambling, a Class B misdemeanor.
Sunday, excise officers seized three Super Bowl gambling boards, which each contained 100 squares costing participants $100 or $1,000 per chance. Some squares were sold to more than one person.
On Monday, a representative of Spike's Lakeside Inn turned over approximately $204,367.00 to excise police.
Because this is an on-going investigation, additional information will be provided when it becomes available for release.
As the enforcement division of the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission, the primary mission of the Indiana State Excise Police is to promote public safety by enforcing Indiana’s Alcoholic Beverage Code. While excise officers have the authority to enforce any state law, they focus primarily on alcohol, tobacco and related laws.
