Police say Internet cafes were a cover for illegal gambling operation

ROSEDALE, Md - Today was senior citizen's day at Hidden Treasures Internet Cafe.

If you got there by ten there was a free breakfast buffet.

Grits, eggs, toast and pancakes.

But now being served out in the parking lot because the guy who made it says he didn’t want it to go to waste.

As folks watch the computers where they allegedly gambled nickels and dimes get carted away by police.

 “They had games about 20 games on the machine they gave you free soda and free chips they were very nice I didn't see any crooked stuff going on but I'm not an officer I just enjoyed myself there that's why I left my money in there so I could come back and play." A woman named Mary Jane tells ABC2News.

County police raided ten internet cafes scattered around the county;

Three cafe's in Woodlawn, Spin and Win on Liberty Road, Click and Spin on Woodlawn Drive and Wireless Cafe 2 on Baltimore National Pike.

One in Towson; Hot Spot Sweepstakes on Goucher Boulevard, about three miles from the Police Station.

Two in Essex; Wheel of Fortune on Carroll Island Road and 88 Sweepstakes on Beacon Road.    

One in Northpoint; The North Point Internet Cafe on North Point Road.

And Three in White marsh,  Fun Spot Cafe on East Joppa Road, Big Dawgs Calling Cards on Kenwood Avenue and perhaps the largest place Hidden Treasures on Philadelphia Road.     

This is the place that patrons called the Taj Mahal.

"They created this environment for the seniors and a lot of folks to come in folks who are retired can come in spend a few hours you don't lose any big money unless you want to some of these folks are regulars they're here every day spending the day here." Al who gambled at the Hidden Treasures site says.

Officers seized hundreds of computers, monitors, safes, camera equipment, and thousands in cash.

They gave out few details about the raid but it culminates a year's investigation into the cafes around the county.

It worked this way; patrons would buy minutes on the computer and go to internet websites that featured slot machine like games.

Sources say if a patron hit a jackpot, they were given minutes they could cash out, debit cards or other rewards could be turned into cash.

Scott Brown worked in in the Hot Spot Sweepstakes on Goucher Boulevard.

He says the place was an internet cafe and nothing more.

He says the county even licensed it.

“They went and got all the licenses and permits and they even went to the county and asked what kind of permits they needed and got them and then this happens." Brown says.

County police say they have not charged anyone yet because they’re still processing evidence.