Published on: January 16, 2026, at 12:50 PM.
Updated on: January 16, 2026, at 01:03 PM.
- Oakland raid reveals explosives, firearms, narcotics, and gambling devices
- Authorities connect competing “slap house” owners to multiple shooting incidents
- Recent arrests and raids indicate rising tensions in the underground casino landscape
A raid conducted on January 2 at an illegal gambling establishment in Oakland, California, uncovered dynamite, firearms, ammunition, spent shell casings, and illegal drugs, suggesting a fierce turf battle among rival illegal operators in the area.
According to The East Bay Times, police conducted a search of a residence in East Oakland after a woman reported armed intruders had entered while she was present. She recounted hearing gunfire as she fled through the back entrance.
In addition to the weapons and narcotics found, authorities also recovered several gaming machines from the residence. The homeowner had previously been arrested in February 2025 on gun possession charges after being seen with an individual linked to the fatal shooting of 29-year-old Lanae Adams. However, he has not been charged in relation to the homicide.
Rising Conflict
Oakland police attribute a recent surge in gun-related incidents to an escalating dispute, linking numerous nonfatal shootings in 2025 to the underground gambling sector.
Many of these illicit operations function out of typical homes, with at least one operating from an RV equipped with arcade-style slot machines.
The gambling machines, typically imported from Japan, China, or South Korea, feature skill-based games akin to those found in the popular “Fish Hunter” genre. Locally referred to as “slap houses,” these venues derive their name from the rapid button presses made by players.
In March 2025, authorities apprehended 33-year-old Wai “Weezy” Hoang, identified by prosecutors as the operator of at least two similar gambling establishments in the city. His arrest occurred just a year after he and two accomplices took plea deals in connection with a brutal 2022 assault on a customer within an illegal gaming venue.
The victim endured a severe beating, was stripped of clothing, and lost substantial blood. Surveillance footage captured the attackers repeatedly stomping on his head for approximately six minutes, according to court documents.
Fast-Paced Pursuit
In October, An Dao, 44, was arrested following a high-speed pursuit and is suspected of running a gambling den in a neighborhood east of the city center. Two weeks before his capture, another gambling venue nearby was shot at, and the suspect fled in a BMW that law enforcement believes matches Dao’s vehicle description. He is regarded as a person of interest in that shooting.
Police report at least 18 shooting incidents related to this conflict have occurred over the past two years. Nonetheless, citywide statistics show a general decline in violent crime, including nonfatal shootings, throughout Oakland in 2025.