Mon. Dec 23rd, 2024
Massive backyard volleyball gambling ring busted in Massachusetts

This is one way to net some cash.

A sprawling backyard volleyball gambling ring that made hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal bucks was busted at a home in Massachusetts, police said Friday.

Organizers set up the operation — less than a block from the Milford police headquarters — with volleyball games, picnic tables and a concession stand selling fried food and booze, cops told 7 News Boston.

“It felt like I was at Foxwoods,” Milford Deputy Chief Robbie Tusino said, referencing the Connecticut-based casino resort.

“I was amazed it was going on to that level — and there was that much money changing hands.”

Roughly 100 gamblers nightly bet on everything from volleyball to card games using the appearance of a tournament as a front, according to the police who seized $10,000 in cash Saturday.


backyard volleyball
Cops busted a massive backyard volleyball gambling ring in Milford, Mass.
Milford Police Department

Investigators arrested two suspects with the help of a confidential informant after neighbors complained about too much traffic.

“There’s about a hundred people there every night,” neighbor Justin Ortega said. “There’s a lot of people there. It’s illegal, you can’t do it here. They got a place for it. Not the back of the house.”

Zoila Castro was arrested and charged with selling liquor without a license, according to WCVB. The unidentified owner of the home was also arrested.


cash from gambling
Gamblers at the home also bet on card games — netting thousands for organizers.
Milford Police Department

Police, who monitored the home for two months before raiding the ring, said they’re now playing hardball.

“It’s really just got to stop. We just want it to stop,” said Tusino. “There’s better ways to make money.”

By Xplayer