Timeline and sources re: illegal electronic gaming machines in Hoke County
April 2018
Hoke County Sheriff’s Office seized over 240 computers used for illegal electronic gambling in a simultaneous raid that shut down three gambling parlors. That included seizing 175 computers from one location in the shopping center at Club Pond Road, known as Club Pond Skill Internet Café. WRAL story.
April 24, 2019
Mohammed Qasem Al-Otab shot and killed in an armed robbery at an electronic gaming business located at 7350 Turnpike Road. Press Release from Hoke County Sheriff’s Office
August 12, 2019
Malan Adhim Morshed shot and killed in an armed robbery at an electronic gaming business located in the Stonegate shopping center on Flagstone Lane. Press release from Hoke County Sheriff’s Office
October 2019
Sheriff Hubert Peterkin issues “shutdown” order for all such businesses in Hoke County with a deadline of November 12. After a court-ordered stay that allowed businesses to open back up, Peterkin discussed the matter with county commissioners, who chose to reconsider the matter from a civil zoning perspective.
December 2019
Hoke County Commissioners put 60-day moratorium on any new gaming establishments in Hoke County.
Commissioner James Leach quoted in a News-Journal story, discussing the county’s ordinance and enforcement:
“We’re going to put more teeth into that. If you’re out of compliance and folks are having a lot of issues and complaining, you have to make that move and do something.” – James Leach, December 2019
Commissioner Harry Southerland quoted in a News-Journal story, discussing the issue of the county’s ordinance and enforcement:
“If they don’t operate lawfully, especially in some of these neighborhoods like Rockfish where it’s a close neighborhood and it’s mostly residential people, it’s a safety issue, we really have to put our hands on that.” – Harry Southerland, December 2019
At that meeting, then-County Planner Robert Farrell said that if these businesses were out of compliance, the matter should be referred to the County Attorney.
“At which point, we can pursue legal action.” – Robert Farrell, former Hoke County Planner, December 2019
February 19, 2020
Hoke County Board of Commissioners approved an amendment to the county zoning ordinance that placed additional restrictions on electronic gaming businesses. From the News-Journal story:
From now on, the county will only consider issuing conditional use permits to applicants seeking to open an electronic gaming business on property zoned as Highway Commercial (HC). Conditional use permits require that the applicant appear before the planning board and commissioners at a public hearing, giving those boards the chance to approve to deny each individual business. Previously, the gaming businesses were permitted by right in the HC zoning district and were approved by county staff members.
Conditional use permits also require the county to notify all property owners within 500 feet of the proposed business location about the public meetings, so they can speak for or against the businesses coming to their area.
Additionally, the businesses will be subject to inspection by county inspectors every six months at a fee of $200. The commissioners plan to review each of the inspection reports, and retain the right to revoke the permit of any such business for any failure to comply with county requirements.
Commissioner Bobby Wright also proposed a motion, which passed, to increase the distance required between such businesses and churches, schools and day cares. Last year, the board decreased the distance from 500 feet to 200 feet from building wall to building wall. The commissioners reversed that decision Monday night, doubling the original required distance to 1,000 feet, measured from business wall to business wall.
Existing businesses with valid permits will be grandfathered in, county officials said.
The update also set a maximum of 10 permitted electronic gaming businesses.
September 8, 2021
Hoke County law enforcement shuts down a ‘casino-style’ video sweepstakes operation located a few hundred feet from Cape Fear Conference B Center, due to it violating the county’s zoning ordinance. Deputies with the Hoke Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant Wednesday, September 8 at a 15,000 square-foot building located 10263 Fayetteville Road. The building had been set up as a “casino-style” sweepstakes business, Hoke Sheriff Dr. Hubert Peterkin said. The business was located too close to the neighboring church. The county ordinance bans sweepstakes businesses from opening up within a certain distance of a religious establishment.
August 4, 2022
Investigators with the Hoke County Sheriff’s Office took out a search warrant for an electronic sweepstakes gaming parlor in the former Dollar City storefront in the Stonegate Village shopping center. They executed a search Thursday, August 4. They found the location was in operation. Officers recovered cash and gaming consoles from the premises.
July 23, 2024
Armed robbery at Golden Cafe located at 2070 Club Pond Road. Media incorrectly identified Golden Cafe as a coffee shop.
May 15, 2025
ALE arrests Mousa Shahbain on charges related to illegal gaming businesses. Golden Cafe has been shut down. See The News-Journal story. The full court records are available here through the N.C. court system. Warrant for his arrest:
May 29, 2025
Hoke County Commissioners retreat in Charlotte. Andrew Jacobs addresses board about issues with electronic gaming machine businesses and proposes $500 fee per machine. Audio recording. Relevant section begins around 9:08.
July 1, 2025
Ordinance change in effect charging machine operators $500 per machine can be seen on page 36 of the Hoke County Zoning Ordinance (last updated on August 5, 2025).
August 4, 2025
Hoke County Board of Commissioners meeting in which the board approved change to allow businesses – mainly gas stations – to both have electronic gaming machines and hold an ABC license to sell alcohol. Relevant discussion begins around 16:37 of the recorded commission meeting.
The agenda for the August 4, 2025 commissioners’ meeting: Here
The original county zoning ordinance, August 4, 2025:
The updated county zoning ordinance, August 5, 2025:
August 26, 2025
Sheriff Roderick Virgil issues notice on illegality of gaming machines. Link to notice.
August 27, 2025
District Attorney Mike Hardin’s cease and desist letter. The News-Journal story on Hardin’s cease and desist letter: Here. And the letter itself:
August 28, 2025
Screenshot of Hoke County GIS showing location of Golden Cafe at 2070 Club Pond Road, and surrounding area to include Walmart, East Hoke Middle School, the Food Lion shopping center, McDonald’s, a church, and multiple residential subdivisions.
