Oakland Gambling Boss Arrested, 18 Shootings Linked to Gangland Feud

Posted on: March 25, 2025, 06:33h. 

Last updated on: March 26, 2025, 10:12h.

Philip Conneller @casinoorgphilc Read More

Expertise: Gaming Business, Regulation, Tribal Gaming.

• Oakland police raids uncover illegal gambling, drugs, firearms, and cash
• Wai “Weezy” Hoang arrested, linked to violent gambling dispute.
• “Slaphouses” operate in abandoned storefronts, fueling escalating gang conflict

Police in Oakland, Calif. have linked 18 recent shootings to an escalating feud between rival illegal gambling operators in the city, The Mercury News reports.

At least four suspected gambling dens, or “slaphouses,” have been targeted by rival gunmen. Five people have been injured in the shootings, including a woman believed to be involved in the day-to-day operations of one of the illegal gambling rings, police said in court filings.

The escalation of hostilities prompted Oakland police to launch a series of raids on several dens in early March, which uncovered illicit slot machines, firearms, methamphetamine, and financial records connected to the gambling rings.

‘Weezy’ Arrest

Among those arrested was 33-year-old Wai “Weezy” Hoang, a figure well-known to authorities for his ties to Oakland’s underground gambling scene. Hoang is believed to have operated at least two gambling dens in the city, according to prosecutors.

His arrest comes just a year after he and two co-defendants accepted plea deals in a brutal 2022 assault on a patron inside an illegal gambling house.

Originally charged with torture, Hoang and his accomplices ultimately pleaded guilty to assault and received two-year sentences, which they were permitted to serve on house arrest.

The victim suffered extensive injuries, including significant blood loss, after being stripped naked and beaten inside one of Hoang’s slaphouses.

The attack was captured by the venue’s security camera, which was later obtained by police. It showed the perpetrators stomping on the victim’s head for six minutes, according to court records.

Slaphouse Phenomenon

“Slaphouses” are named after the button-bashing sound made by customers when playing on illegal machines. They are a growing phenomenon in California and elsewhere.

Usually springing up in areas where retail has taken a downturn, they often look like vacant storefronts and sometimes still sport the signage of the previous business occupant. One of the March Oakland Police raids involved a “mobile slaphouse” housed inside an RV.

He’s being held at Santa Rita Jail without bail. His first court appearance was scheduled for Tuesday morning.