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COCOA, Fla. — A Brevard County woman has been arrested following a law enforcement raid on an illegal gambling operation known as “Diamond Arcade” located at 4875 West King Street in Cocoa. The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigation Unit executed a search warrant on October 20, 2025, uncovering an ongoing gambling enterprise that had been under investigation for several months.
According to the arrest report, Betty Jean Harley was the sole employee operating the establishment at the time of the raid. Harley reportedly admitted during a post-Miranda interview that she had been working at the arcade for approximately two months and had previously done similar work there in prior years.
Deputies say Harley openly acknowledged knowing the establishment was a gambling venue and described in detail her role in managing the daily operation. She told investigators that her responsibilities included retrieving $5,000 each morning that was allegedly hidden in a microwave, placing the money in the register, paying out “winnings” to patrons, maintaining communication with the arcade’s owners, and recording daily transactions. She also described the use of encrypted messaging platforms such as WhatsApp to conceal communications between employees and owners regarding payouts and operations.
Court records indicate Harley was charged with one count of “Gambling or Games of Chance” under Florida Statute 849.08, with a bond set at $2,500. Investigators noted that all of the machines inside the establishment had been confirmed to function as illegal gambling devices in prior undercover operations conducted by law enforcement this year and in past investigations during 2023 and 2024.
The report also states that an undercover agent previously visited the Diamond Arcade on October 16, 2025, where Harley provided instruction on how to participate in the games, accepted $20 in “match” funds, and added the agent’s name to the players’ list — actions investigators say demonstrated her active role in facilitating illegal gambling activity.
Authorities concluded that Harley’s statements and actions supported the charge of “Keeping or Maintaining a Gambling House,” in violation of Florida law.
The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office stated that the case report will be supplemented as the investigation continues.
