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 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 two full-sized paved courts, picnic tables and a concession stand with fried food and booze, Milford Deputy Chief Robbie Tusino told The Post.
“It felt like I was at Foxwoods,” said Tusino, referencing the Connecticut-based casino resort.
“I was amazed it was going on to that level — and there was that much money changing hands,” he told 7 News Boston.
Roughly 100 gamblers nightly bet on the six-on-six amateur regional volleyball matches, which organizers promoted aggressively on social media, Tusino said.
The gamblers placed bets on who would win and the number of points scored while playing card games such as poker on the side, he said.
On Saturday, investigators seized $10,000 in cash and arrested two suspects after neighbors complained about too much traffic, according to police.
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.”
In total, organizers raked in nearly $150,000 in a single weekend, according to Tusino, who said the backyard sports betting had likely been going on for roughly a year.
“There were two paved, professional-sized courts, they kept good books — they were professionals,” said Tusino. “I believe it started as a wholesome thing and, like all crime enterprises, it turned into a money-making event that became its own entity.”
Zoila Castro was arrested and charged with selling liquor without a license, police said. The unidentified owner of the home was also arrested Saturday.
The bust came amid a surge in popularity for sport — as the University of Nebraska’s volleyball team set a world record for most fans ever to attend a women’s sporting event.
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.”
