County Judge Hopes to Close All Game Rooms

BROWNWOOD, TX -- As game rooms continue to pop up in Brown County, local officials are cracking down. There are currently four game rooms in operation in the county.

According to County Judge Paul Lilly, the issue is a matter of public safety.

“I’m hesitant to infringe on anyone’s right to operate a business. However, these businesses continue to cause problems,” said Lilly during a press conference.

Judge Lilly will be proposing a new order that could help end illegal gambling, racketeering, and the use of illegal drugs.

According to the Brown County Sheriff's Department, at least five people have been arrested in game rooms that were not operating under the law since September 5.

“They were arrested for gambling," said Lt. Scott Bird with the Brown County Sheriff's Department. "The people that owned the operations and the ones working.”

According to Bird, game rooms that are not following the law have been warned.

“The last operation we did, we even sent letters to each operation that was running to cease and desist," he said. "Very few of them stopped.”

According to Lilly, law enforcement also believes patrons are not complying with health guidelines to avoid the spread of COVID-19.

“There's people packed in there, and none of them are very few of them wearing masks, or taking the six feet precaution for social distancing."

Lilly's proposed order would shut down all game rooms, even those operating legally. If approved the game rooms would have 30 days to permanently shut their doors.

“We will not, *will not* tolerate gambling inside the borders around the county,” said Lilly.