A Texas mayor was arrested this week as part of a series of illegal gambling raids by law enforcement in Galveston County.
Police executed 21 search warrants as part of the investigation. As a result, Hitchcock Mayor Chris Armacost was one of those taken into custody. Armacost now faces a charge of engaging in organized criminal activity.
“The city takes these allegations very seriously,” Hitchcock City Manager Marie Gelles told local media. “We are dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and public trust. We will continue to assist law enforcement in every way possible while ensuring that essential city services remain uninterrupted for our residents.”
City Regulated Illegal Gambling
The raids involved about 20 establishments allegedly housing illegal slot machine-like gaming devices within Hitchcock. Authorities said several people were arrested in the raids.
Residents told KHOU the games were common in the city. However, state law bars casino gaming and slot machines.
Police said they removed five illegal machines from a laundromat owned by the mayor. In addition to his mayoral duties, Armacost is the assistant superintendent for the Hitchcock Independent School District.
The Galveston County Sheriff’s Office also conducted a search at Hitchcock City Hall. They seized records related to the alleged illegal gambling.
The city actually regulates the machines. Businesses with five or less machines or fewer pays $100 per device annually. Businesses with more than that are categorized as a “game room.” Those businesses pay a $1,000 annual fee and $100 per machine.
The city ordinance states that cash payouts are banned and that the games must award only non-cash items. However, some residents said businesses paid out cash as well.
The machines account for almost $844,000 in revenue for the city of about 8,000 people, about 11% of the annual budget.
“The city of Hitchcock is fully cooperating with the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office and the Galveston County Organized Crime Task Force as they conduct their investigation into illegal gambling operations,” an official statement from the city said. “Our administration is committed to complete transparency and is providing investigators with all requested access to permitting records, inspection reports, and personnel files to ensure a thorough and swift resolution.”
Growing Concern For Law Enforcement
Law enforcement across the country have battled the proliferation of illegal slot machines in recent years. In Florida, the Gaming Control Commission doubled the amount of illegal gambling funds and machines confiscated in 2025 compared to the previous year.
In 2024, California officials raided an illegal gambling den disguised as a beauty salon. Michigan regulators also busted up a similar operation in 2023.
Law enforcement groups report that many of the operations are often run by organized crime. Some in Los Angeles are said to be operated by members of the Mexican mafia.
“It’s hidden in plain sight,” Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Detective Richard Velasquez told the Los Angeles Times. “You don’t know that it’s there until you know that it’s there.”
