August 30th, 2023: Forget about Facebook or even X for now; TikTok is changing the entertainment and lifestyle of the new generation. If you haven’t tried it yet or have casually visited it in the past, then you’ll know that it’s now the go-to source for entertaining videos covering a wide range of categories, from food and music to fashion. But thanks to its popularity, many content creators are experimenting with themes and topics for their videos, all in pursuit of views and engagement.
One popular TikToker from the US goes bold in the choice of content by introducing gambling. According to reports, the suspect would stream on TikTok and wager on whichever slot machine his viewers requested. But now, the exciting days are over after the Minnesota Police busted this illegal gambling scheme, and the suspect is facing jail time.
TikTok gambling goes viral
According to reports, Blake Carl Fitzgerald was jailed after state authorities discovered his illegal activities. Mr. Fitzgerald allegedly used the app’s live-streaming services to bet remotely on behalf of his viewers. The suspect allegedly collected more than $65,000 through Venmo and CashApp. He then used this money to wager on slot machines at the Lake Casino & Resort and Treasure Island Casino and then live-streamed the gambling activity on TikTok.
Police reports say that Fitzgerald would call out a subscriber’s name during the livestream, asking them for suggestions on what games to play. Fitzgerald keeps more than half of the winnings as part of the agreement, and the rest are for the subscribers.
Furthermore, if there is no more time to play the games, he returns the money to his viewers or subscribers. Each subscriber pays a fee of $5.99, and all communications and other activities are on the Discord server.
Fitzgerald is now in hot water
The TiikTok was popular until the Minnesota Alchohol and Gambling Enforcement Division received an anonymous tip. After receiving the complaint, the regulatory body immediately investigated and identified Fitzgerald. In the investigations, the body learned that the suspect had an accomplice running the TikTok scheme.
As of this writing, the body has not yet named the other suspect since no charges have been filed. For Fitzgerald, he is facing three counts of running an illegal gambling operation. If convicted, he will spend up to three years in prison and pay thousands in fines.
