It wasn’t exactly the Four Queens, but it had nearly 200 slot machines, undercover agents, and enough cash to stuff a backpack. Now it’s out of business.
Il Villagio, a flashy internet café tucked along U.S. 441 in Lady Lake, was shut down earlier this month after state investigators raided the storefront and hauled off an estimated fortune in gambling machines and evidence. At the center of the six-month sting: Rima Ray, the café’s owner and self-titled CEO, who now faces felony charges for money laundering and operating an illegal gambling house.
The Florida Gaming Control Commission began digging into the operation back in February after hearing that the café was playing fast and loose with state gambling laws — and possibly with its elderly clientele’s wallets. Though “internet café” might evoke images of coffee and Wi-Fi, Il Villagio allegedly housed an arcade’s worth of unlicensed slot machines—more than 190, by one undercover count.
These so-called “fish games” lure players with cash prizes and gift cards, giving operators a paper-thin legal excuse to say it’s a game of skill, not chance. But Florida authorities say that slot machines are only legal at a handful of approved locations, all of them in Miami-Dade County — and Il Villagio is about 300 miles too far north.
Agents began building their case with stealth visits. One showed up with a hidden camera. Another posed as a trainee during a surprise inspection with firefighters. A third agent went all in, feeding money into machines and watching staff hand patrons cash — not exactly subtle for a supposed café.
The paper trail wasn’t much cleaner. Investigators say Ray paid the café’s utility bills using her personal credit card and had financial accounts flagged for suspicious activity. Surveillance near her Saint Augustine home later led to a traffic stop — and the discovery of $340,000 in a backpack.
Several surrounding “fish games” establishments with similar business models have now closed. Ray now faces serious charges and a high-stakes legal battle. It’s safe to say the house doesn’t always win.
