Galveston police seized more than $2 million in cash in a countywide crackdown on alleged illegal eight-liner gambling, the latest enforcement action in a region where League City and other cities have already banned the machines.

The Galveston Police Department Vice and Narcotics Unit served 21 search and arrest warrants across Galveston County on Oct. 29, first reported by Houston Public Media. The department said it targeted alleged illegal gambling operations in the City of Galveston, Texas City and La Marque. None of the 14 locations searched were in League City, which banned the machines before the crackdown.

What happened

Law enforcement searched 14 businesses, storage facilities and other locations tied to the alleged criminal activity, according to a Galveston Police Department news release. The named locations include 13 Galveston addresses and one in Santa Fe. Between 40 and 50 officers took part, KGTX 7 reported.

The initial police news release said four people were arrested and charged with engaging in organized criminal activity, each with bond set at $250,000. A later KHOU report put the total at six arrests and identified two of those charged: David Nash and Linda Nash. Both face an additional charge of money laundering, a first-degree felony, according to KHOU. Bond on the money laundering charge was set at $3.25 million for David Nash and $50,000 for Linda Nash.

Galveston Police Chief Douglas Balli said tips initially led investigators to establishments owned or operated by David Nash, then to other locations, according to KHOU. Balli did not confirm Nash owned every property involved.

Investigation traced to June tip

The investigation began after a Crime Stoppers tip about suspected illegal gambling in June, Balli said at an Oct. 30 news conference. Officials said the businesses under investigation allegedly paid cash winnings to eight-liner players, which violates Texas law.

"We know preliminarily that over $2 million has been seized thus far, but we do not have a final count," Balli said, according to KHOU. Officers were still processing evidence on Oct. 30.

The seized cash will be held as evidence while court proceedings determine its disposition, Balli said. Police warned the investigation could expand.

League City among cities that already banned machines

The bust is the third major gambling crackdown in Galveston County in 2026. Law enforcement raided game rooms in Hitchcock in February, seizing about 750 machines and $420,000 and arresting 33 people, according to the Galveston County Daily News. A June operation targeted six game rooms in La Marque.

Those enforcement actions followed a Texas appeals court ruling in the case City of Fort Worth v. Rylie, which found eight-liner machines are unconstitutional lotteries. The Texas Supreme Court declined to review the decision.

League City, Dickinson and Kemah passed ordinances banning the machines, according to the Daily News. Galveston County commissioners voted in June to dismantle the county's game room licensing framework for unincorporated areas. Galveston and Hitchcock have not banned eight-liners outright.

Galveston County District Attorney Kenneth Cusick said at the Oct. 30 news conference that his office would continue prosecuting the cases and pursuing asset forfeiture. He said there have been multiple convictions from previous gambling cases, though those proceedings remain ongoing.

Residents with information about suspected illegal gambling can contact Galveston Crime Stoppers.