Gurjinder Singh got hit with a two-year misdemeanor sentence on December 18. Judge Steven Timmers delivered the ruling at Kent County’s 62A District Court. Singh also owes $500 in fines and court costs.
He ran Pfeffer’s Party Store, where investigators found two slot machines in February. The devices looked just like casino slots. But Singh didn’t have a gambling license.
Singh pleaded guilty to Gambling House Permitting for Gain. The Michigan Gaming Control Board and the state Attorney General built the case together after someone reported suspicious activity at the store.
Why This Operation Broke the Rules
Singh’s setup dodged every gambling regulation in Michigan. Players won money, then collected their winnings on Visa gift cards. That’s not how licensed gambling works.
Real casinos follow strict payout rules and reporting requirements. Singh avoided all of that. His gift card system let him operate completely off the books.
MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams was blunt about it. “This sentencing sends a clear message that illegal gambling will not be tolerated in Michigan,” he said.
He didn’t stop there. Williams added that unlicensed operations “put players and communities at risk” and “can contribute to other forms of crime.”
What Investigators Found at the Store
State agents walked into Pfeffer’s Party Store back in February 2024. They spotted two standalone gaming machines immediately. The slots looked almost identical to ones you’d find on a casino floor.
Customers played them exactly like regular slots. When they won, Singh cashed them out through Visa gift cards instead of following legal payout procedures. This helped him fly under the radar for months.
The machines closely resembled equipment used in Michigan’s licensed retail casinos. That similarity made the violation particularly clear-cut.
How Michigan Enforces Gambling Laws
This isn’t an isolated case. The MGCB sent 12 cease-and-desist letters to offshore gambling operators on December 4. Sites like 31 Bets Casino, Betnuvo and BetPhoenix all got notices for illegally offering betting to Michigan residents.
Williams explained that illegal operations “lack consumer protections” and pull money away from community priorities. Licensed operators compete fairly because they follow the rules. Unlicensed ones don’t.
The MGCB keeps working with law enforcement to track down these operations. They want Michigan residents protected from unsafe gambling environments, and they want legitimate businesses to have a level playing field without illegal competition undercutting them.
Singh’s case shows the state means business about enforcement. The two-year sentence and public nature of the case send a message to other store owners who might consider installing similar machines.
