Deputies seized illegal gambling machines across Chatham County, according to the sheriff’s office. (Chatham County Sheriff’s Office)

A series of undercover operations led the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office to break up illegal gambling operations at 17 businesses around the county, officials said. 

The deputies found illegal slot machines and “fish games” at the gas stations and other businesses in August, the sheriff’s office said. Investigators charged nine people with a combined 36 felonies and 39 misdemeanors. 

“North Carolina law prohibits cash payouts for winnings from video gaming machines, regardless of whether they involve games or chance or skill,” the sheriff’s office said. “Many of the illegal gaming machines in question were found to be video slot games and fish table games that paid cash for credits won.”

At Infinity Gaming Software in Siler City, the sheriff’s office said they seized 50 illegal machines. At A&M Amusement in Chapel Hill, it was 35, according to the sheriff’s office. 

Undercover deputies inspected 51 businesses for possible illegal gambling and found the machines in 17, the sheriff’s office said.

Six of the businesses had more than five machines operating, the sheriff’s office said. The owners of those were changed in the investigation. Another 11 businesses, all appearing to be gas stations and convenience stores, had less than five machines. Those businesses were issued letters ordering them to remove the machines.