Security guard shot during robbery of Raleigh sweepstakes parlor

For years, the North Carolina Sheriff's Association has lobbied state legislators to outlaw the businesses because they say they attract crime.

Posted 9:15 a.m. Dec 14, 2021 — Updated 8:06 p.m. Dec 14, 2021

Amanda Lamb

, WRAL reporter

RALEIGH, N.C. — Raleigh police are looking for four men who robbed a sweepstakes parlor early Tuesday morning at gunpoint, shooting a security guard in the process.

The robbery and shooting occurred after 12:30 a.m. at Good Times Sweeps, at 5540 Atlantic Springs Road.

The guard suffered non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

Sweepstake parlors are basically 24/7 businesses. The windows are covered, and people have to be personally let in after ringing a video doorbell.

But even with that security, crimes can and still do happen.

Walter Boykin is a customer, but he also works across town at another sweepstakes business.

"Where I work at if the person looks strange, we don’t let them in. When people come in and scope out the place it’s a red flag right there," said Boykin.

The businesses allow people to play video games that are supposed to be based on skill, not chance, for monetary prizes. A lot of cash changes hands.

After years of outlawing sweepstakes machines in NC, lawmakers seek to regulate, tax video gambling

For years, the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association has lobbied state legislators to outlaw the businesses because they believe they attract crime to the neighborhoods where they operate.

"[It's] a lot of illegal gambling, money laundering, prostitution, robberies," said Eddie Caldwell, executive vice president and general counsel for the sheriffs’ association. "The issue that the sheriffs are concerned about is the impact on public safety and the devastation that it causes to families in their community."

Good Times Sweeps shares the shopping center with two other sweepstakes parlors. Since 2018, there have been two homicides, 15 weapons’ violations, 21 assaults, and 22 drug charges in the area.

Raleigh Police told WRAL News that while the numbers may seem high, they have dropped significantly in 2021 from previous years.

House Bill 954, which would have given the state the ability to regulate sweepstakes businesses, did not pass in the most recent session of the General Assembly.

For now, it doesn’t appear these businesses will lose their foothold in the communities they serve anytime soon.

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