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An alleged illegal gambling operation spanning more than 30 Trenton businesses has led to a Philadelphia man’s arrest and charges against business owners accused of hosting slot machines.
Police executed search warrants across Trenton Oct. 5, seizing more than 70 slot machines and over $100,000.
The searches followed an 11-month investigation conducted jointly by detectives from Trenton police and the New Jersey State Police Financial Crimes Unit.
The police department’s announcement said investigators found slot-style machines being used for personal financial gain at businesses throughout Trenton. Officers also seized other items allegedly used to facilitate gambling.
Police linked slot machines to 32 Trenton businesses
The case began in November 2025, when state police received a tip about slot machines operating inside Trenton bodegas, according to NJ.com.
Around the same time, Trenton officers stopped Harry B. Almonte and found him carrying a large amount of cash. Authorities said he also had a receipt showing that one of the machines had received $25,000.
Investigators subsequently used undercover visits and surveillance to build the case. Officers entered the businesses during the investigation, while detectives followed Almonte and used GPS to track his movements.
The charges against Almonte allege that he made deposits ranging from $16,000 to $50,000 each month into his bank accounts.
NJ.com identified 32 locations, including bodegas, barber shops, and corner stores. Investigators found that none of the businesses had a license authorizing a slot machine or game of chance.
The searches brought an increased police presence to Trenton on Oct. 5. The department issued a public safety alert explaining that officers were conducting a planned law enforcement operation and that there was no immediate public safety threat.
Suspect and business owners face gambling charges
Philadelphia police arrested Almonte, 33, at his home as authorities carried out the operation.
In New Jersey, he faces charges of maintaining a gambling resort or online gambling resort, possessing gambling devices, promoting gambling, and money laundering.
Business owners also received complaint summonses charging them with maintaining a gambling resort or online gambling resort and possessing gambling devices.
The police announcement did not name the businesses involved or identify their owners. It also did not specify how many business owners received complaint summonses in connection with the investigation. The charges remain allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
In a separate 2022 illegal gambling machine case, New Jersey State Police charged two Brooklyn men accused of placing coin-pusher machines in convenience stores across the state.
NJ players can check approved casinos and report disputes
Slot machines at Atlantic City casinos undergo testing by the Division of Gaming Enforcement’s Technical Services Bureau. The testing checks whether slot machines operate as designed and comply with the requirements New Jersey sets for games offered at regulated casinos.
Players using New Jersey online casinos can check the DGE’s approved sites before depositing money. A site that does not appear on the list is not authorized to offer internet gaming in the state.
Licensed operators must also have a process for handling customer complaints. Players should contact the casino first. They can take an unresolved internet gaming dispute to the DGE after exhausting the operator’s complaint process.
When submitting an internet gaming dispute, players must provide the DGE with a copy of the complaint they originally filed with the casino, along with the response they received from the operator.
Anyone with information about suspected illegal gambling in Trenton can call police at (609) 989-4000 or email tpdcrimetips@trentonpolice.net.
