An Edina man and his brother were charged Friday with roaming Twin Cities area casinos and playing slots for gamblers who paid to have their bets placed, then watched live on TikTok in hopes of striking it rich.
Blake C. Fitzgerald, 40, was charged in Scott County District Court with three gross misdemeanors. He's alleged to have run a remote bookie business for at least four months until January while at Mystic Lake Casino in Prior Lake or Treasure Island Resort & Casino just outside Red Wing in violation of a law that prohibits placing bets on behalf of someone else.
State officials say they also detected Fitzgerald carrying out the same venture at a Detroit casino months later and using offshore slot betting sites in recent weeks as a way to keep his wagering modus operandi going.
Nicole Roddy, a spokeswoman for the Minnesota Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division (AGED), said early this year that "prior to that case, we have had no other cases of that nature reported to us."
Roddy explained Friday why it's important for her agency to go after illegal gambling, even if everyone involved participates willingly.
"It's about consumer protection," she said. "Without protections, there's no guarantee that you'll get paid if you win after placing a wager. There's no way to know if the betting will be run fairly. There is no way to prevent children from gambling illegally."
The American Gaming Association, which represents sports books and casinos across the country, also said it has never heard of such a gambling scheme. Alex Costello, the association's vice president for government relations, said that "actions like this violate casinos' ... anti-money-laundering protocols and are a threat to our financial system."
Fitzgerald was charged by summons and has declined to comment on the charges. During an interview in January with the Star Tribune, he said he plays with his own money.
