Dynamite Found in Illegal Oakland Gambling Den Amid Turf War

• Oakland raid uncovers dynamite, guns, drugs, and gaming machines
• Police link rival “slap house” operators to a string of shootings
• Arrests and raids highlight escalating feud in underground casino scene

A January 2 raid on an Oakland, Calif., gambling den turned up dynamite, guns, ammunition, spent shell casings, and illegal narcotics – further possible evidence of an ongoing turf war between rival illegal gambling operators in the city.

Police searched the East Oakland residential property after a woman reported that armed intruders had stormed the house while she was there, The East Bay Times reports. The woman said she heard gunfire as she escaped through the back door.

Along with the cache of weapons and drugs, police found numerous gaming machines at the property. The homeowner was arrested on suspicion of firearm possession in February 2025 after police saw him in the company of a suspect in the fatal shooting of 29-year-old Oakland woman Lanae Adams, according to the Times. Police haven’t accused him of involvement in the killing.

Escalating Feud

Oakland police say a recent spate of gun violence in the city is being driven by the feud, with dozens of nonfatal shootings in 2025 believed to be connected to underground gambling.

These operations are typically run out of otherwise ordinary Oakland homes, and in one case, an RV, outfitted with arcade-style slot machines.

The devices, usually imported from Japan, China, or South Korea, feature skill-based games such as those in the popular “Fish Hunter” genre. Known locally as “slap houses,” the venues take their name from the rapid button-bashing sound made by players.

The victim was stripped naked and beaten, suffering severe injuries and significant blood loss. Security footage from inside the venue shows the assailants repeatedly stomping on the man’s head for roughly six minutes, according to court records.

High-Speed Chase

In October, police arrested An Dao, 44, following a high-speed chase. Dao is suspected of running a gambling den in a neighborhood east of downtown. Two weeks before his arrest, someone shot up another nearby casino, escaping in a BMW that police say matched Dao’s. He is considered a person of interest in the shooting.

Police say there have been at least 18 shootings connected to the feud in the last two years alone. Despite this, citywide police data shows violent crime, including nonfatal shootings, declined overall in Oakland through 2025.