Several scammers have been targeting customers of Jake’s 58, a popular Suffolk County video lottery terminal parlor, by claiming that the casino is now accepting wagers for online gambling.
The scammers have been posting on social media platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram, from a company called “Top Slots,” which claims to be representing Jake’s 58. They are offering $1,500 in bonus points with Jake’s for registering with their site.
- A message on the Islandia casino’s website and social media sites on Monday warned customers of the “fraudulent online post claiming to offer online gambling services with Jake’s 58.”
- The message stated that Jake’s 58 does not “offer any form of online gambling” and that the casino is not affiliated with any website, app or platform claiming to offer those services.
Suffolk OTB president and chief executive Phil Boyle said that at least one customer provided the scammer with their bank account information and had an undetermined amount of money stolen.
“Right away we knew this was a scam, because we have no online betting except for horse racing with OTB,” Boyle said in an interview Monday. “We notified our customers through a vast email. We put it up on the television sets in the casino. We notified law enforcement of this scam. And we’re just trying to get the word out as much as possible for people not to believe it has anything to do with Jake’s.”
A similar scam has hit other video lottery terminal parlors downstate and in Western New York.
| State | Video Lottery Terminal Parlor | Scam Targeting |
|---|---|---|
| Western New York | Multiple parlors | Yes |
| New York | Multiple parlors | Yes |
| Connecticut | N/A | No |
| New Jersey | N/A | No |
While it’s legal to place bets on sports in New York, online casino gambling is illegal in all but just a handful of states nationwide, including New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. “Anybody that says, ‘hey, come to this website and bet on poker or blackjack or slot machines with Jake’s,’ it’s illegal,” Boyle said. “And we have nothing to do with it. It’s a scam.”
Key Takeaway: Jake’s 58 customers are advised not to fall for the scam, and to report any suspicious activity to law enforcement.
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