The authorities of Miami-Dade County recently arrested Marilyn Morel, a woman accused of running an illegal lottery game inside a supermarket in North Miami Beach.
Although their nationality has not been disclosed by the media or the authorities, the case has attracted attention both for the type of activity they were engaged in and for the way this scheme operated within a public establishment.
Morel was arrested on Wednesday by police officers following an investigation that linked her to the sale of “la bolita,” a form of illegal lottery with deep historical roots in Cuba and other Latin American communities.
His operational base was the Prestige supermarket, located at 6784 Northwest Second Avenue, in the heart of a densely populated area of Miami-Dade, according to a report by Univision.
What is striking about the case is that the activity did not take place in the secrecy of a home or in a closed venue, as one might expect in such cases, but rather in the very environment where hundreds of customers were doing their daily shopping.
In the words of the authorities, Morel "collected bets using a computer" from inside the supermarket, employing simple yet effective technology to attract players, record their numbers, and issue receipts as proof.
During the police intervention, cash and several receipts containing previously played numbers were seized, confirming that the operation was not an isolated or sporadic activity, but a structured and fully operational business.
How did she manage to operate without being detected?
Although the bolita game is illegal, its operation often adapts easily to the urban environment of communities with a strong Latin presence.
According to the consulted court documents, Morel managed to operate by taking advantage of the daily dynamics of the supermarket: regular customers, many of whom were likely familiar with the system, participated in the betting without raising obvious suspicions.
The use of a computer to record the plays and issue receipts to bettors added an element of organization that possibly lent an air of legality or formality to the operation.
But this did not prevent the police from detecting the activity, possibly stemming from a tip-off or an undercover investigation in the area.
The authorities have not provided details about how long Morel had been operating this system, nor if there are others involved in the network.
It has not been reported whether the supermarket was aware of what was happening inside or if it in any way facilitated the development of the activity.
What is “la bolita”?
The game of "la bolita" is an illegal lottery that has endured over the years, especially in Cuban communities in South Florida.
Its name comes from the "bolitero," the figure responsible for selling small balls with numbers, a practice that emerged in the early years of the 20th century in Cuba.
This system, although illegal, has remained present in popular culture as an informal alternative to the state's official games.
One of its most notable features is that it does not require its own draws: the numbers wagered by players are then compared with the official results of state lotteries that are legally authorized, such as those in Florida, New York, or Georgia.
In this way, the "bolitero" avoids the need to organize draws and relies on verifiable results to determine winners and losers.
This modality makes it more difficult to detect fraud, as it leaves no obvious traces of clandestine draws, and participants can justify their bets as if they were simply comparing them with the official numbers of the day.
A game with a story, but outside the law
The bolita is considered a traditional game in many immigrant communities, especially among Cubans, Puerto Ricans, and Dominicans.
In some neighborhoods of Miami, such as Hialeah or Allapattah, its practice has been part of the popular imagination for decades. However, its illegality in the state of Florida makes it a criminal offense punishable by legal charges.
In this case, Marilyn Morel is facing charges for operating an illegal gambling game, which may carry serious legal consequences, including fines and possible jail time.
The investigation is ongoing, and it is not ruled out that other individuals may be involved. Authorities could expand the case if a broader network of illegal betting operations is uncovered, linked to other areas of the city or similar operations.
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