Officers seized 21 video gambling machines Wednesday from two convenience stores and two homes in Lexington County, according to the Lexington County Sheriff's Department.

Undercover officers played card games on the machines and received cash payoffs for winning, according to the sheriff's department.

A Lexington County magistrate determined Wednesday that the 21 devices are illegal. South Carolina law requires a magistrate to rule on the legality of each video gambling machine.

Officers seized three illegal video gambling devices at C-Mart at 658 Two
Notch Road, Sheriff James R. Metts said. Officers also seized two illegal video gambling devices at MK Mini Mart at 668 Main Street in the town of South Congaree.

Officers removed eight illegal video gambling devices from a home at 2155-A South Lake Drive, Metts said, and eight more from a home at 1103 Watling Road in the town of Springdale.

Lexington County Sheriff's Department narcotics investigators, Springdale Police Department officers and S.C. Law Enforcement Division agents worked together to remove the machines. 

Metts announced last month that the sheriff's department was working with SLED to investigate illegal video gambling in Lexington County.

Reports also surfaced last month that Danny Frazier, a part-time employee at the sheriff's department and a Lexington Town councilman, may be involved in the video gambling industry. Metts suspended Frazier from his job at the sheriff's department and asked SLED to investigate the allegations.

The sheriff's department did not say that Frazier was connected to the homes or businesses where machines were seized Wednesday.

Undercover officers will continue to investigate illegal gambling devices, Metts said.

Anyone with information about illegal video gambling devices should call the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department at 803-785-8230 or CrimeStoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.

In July, SLED agents seized video gambling machines in Richland County and in Irmo.