4 Arrested in Alleged Illegal Gambling Den Bust in San Diego Home

Police seized gambling machines, money, and a loaded firearm during the raid in the City Heights neighborhood.

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Four people were arrested after police shut down an alleged illegal gambling den operated out of a home in San Diego's City Heights neighborhood. Police seized nine illegal gambling machines, money, and a loaded firearm during the raid, which came after receiving complaints of drug and prostitution-related activity in the area.

Why it matters

Illegal gambling operations can attract additional criminal activity and threaten the security of neighborhoods, according to police. This is the fourth such raid in the City Heights area in the past six months, raising concerns about a potential trend of illegal gambling dens popping up in the community.

The details

Acting on complaints of drug and prostitution-related activity, San Diego police served a search warrant at a Central Avenue home in the Teralta West neighborhood on Tuesday morning. Along with the four arrests, police seized nine illegal gambling machines, money, and a loaded firearm from the residence.

  • Police served the search warrant on Tuesday, February 4, 2026.
  • This is the fourth raid in the City Heights area in the past six months.

The players

San Diego Police Department

The local law enforcement agency that conducted the raid and investigation into the alleged illegal gambling den.

Elaine May

A neighbor who lives next door to the raided home and noticed an increase in strange activity and visitors to the residence in recent weeks.

SDPD Officer Anthony Carrasco

A police officer who commented on the prevalence of illegal gambling operations in San Diego, despite the abundance of legal casinos in the region.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Illegal gambling establishments pose significant risks to the community. These locations often attract additional criminal activity, including narcotics sales, theft, violence and threaten the security of our neighborhoods within which they unlawfully operate.”

— San Diego Police Department (nbcsandiego.com)

“A lot of really weird-dressed people would come. I mean, like, they were, like, wearing evening clothes in the middle of the day. They'd come around, maybe, you know, three or four in the afternoon and just ring the doorbell and disappear.”

— Elaine May, Neighbor (nbcsandiego.com)

“We have so many casinos here in San Diego County, and realistically, Las Vegas is a 45-minute flight away. So I don't know why they're bringing that into our neighborhoods.”

— SDPD Officer Anthony Carrasco (nbcsandiego.com)

What’s next

The police department urged residents to report any similar suspicious activity in their neighborhoods by contacting the non-emergency line or Crime Stoppers.

The takeaway

This raid highlights the ongoing challenge of illegal gambling operations in San Diego's neighborhoods, which can attract other criminal activity and threaten community safety. Despite the abundance of legal gambling options in the region, some residents are still turning to unlicensed and unregulated gambling dens, prompting a crackdown by local law enforcement.