Some say highway robbery is occurring along two highways in Hunt County.

The robbery, according to some, has taken place in illegal casinos that sprang up a few months ago despite a massive effort to shut them down.

The scope of last spring's raids along Highways 34 and 278 in southern Hunt County were unprecedented.

More than 50 officers from five different agencies conducted raids on 14 game rooms packed with hundreds of video poker and slot machines, all of which were hauled away and destroyed.

County Attorney Joel Littlefield proclaimed victory.

"They should probably take heed that if they are operating illegally, sooner or later they are gonna get caught," he said.

But eight months later, a deflating discovery was made as News 8 went back to Hunt County with undercover cameras.

Littlefield said he felt discouraged after shown footage of what appears to be more illegal gambling in the area.

From what was caught on camera, some of the same game rooms busted for illegally paying cash to customers last spring, and some brand new places, appear to be breaking the law by paying out cash instead of prizes.

Among the newest, Spinners located on Highway 278 featured upgraded touch-screen gaming machines that paid cash for winnings.

"We are going to start staying open on Friday and Saturday night, 24, all night long Friday night and Saturday night," said one man working the game room.

An LTTD game room that was closed last March was found this week filled with machines and an attendant quick to spot $5 of the house's money.

Also, an H & H game room was raided last spring, but it too was found filled with patrons playing video poker. While a sign read "We don't pay cash," Littlefield said that wasn't true while observing video.

"They are paying cash and they are back in full force," he said.

Littlefield said there's little more he could have done last spring since operators were arrested, machines destroyed and cash confiscated.

Fourteen casinos, or gaming operations, were raided at that time in the area and at least that many appear to be open now.

One called the Loose Goose temporarily closed the day News 8 chose to investigate it, but several sources said it is the granddaddy with more than 100 machines inside.

Other alleged casinos seem to have become more guarded about who they allow inside.

"You're not undercover are you?" asked one man.

Others screened for unwelcome patrons by requiring a membership.

With some casinos netting $50,000 a month and operators charged with only misdemeanor crimes, Littlefield said he feels he's spinning his wheels.

"The fact that they are only going to get prosecuted for a misdemeanor, they are going to open back up until the penalties are higher," he said.

State Representative Dan Flynn, who represents Hunt County, said he wants it shut down.

He said the only way to combat illegal gambling is to strengthen the law, which he plans to do when lawmakers meet in legislative session.

Last spring five operators were charged with possession of a gambling device, which is only a misdemeanor. They were fined $700 and given probation, but no jail time.

Among those arrested was Eloise Hudson, who was the same person captured on film asking if News 8 staff were undercover cops.

Flynn said he is drafting legislation that makes it tougher for people like Hudson to be back in operation.

"And the reality is they are performing illegal activities, activities that cannot only be harmful to the community but obviously the people inside," he said.

Officials say many of the people inside, most of modest means, are an easy mark for illegal casino operators.

Money, often needed to feed their family, is being fed into an unregulated machine, which can easily be rigged to pay nothing.

"It's highway robbery, without a gun, but it's highway robbery," Littlefield said.

E-mail bshipp@wfaa.com