The Washington State Gambling Commission and Seattle Police Department arrested 11 people in connection with an illegal gambling operation.

WHITE CENTER, Wash. — Eleven people, including the owner of a White Center business, are facing charges for their involvement in illegal gambling.

The Washington State Gambling Commission and Seattle Police Department have been investigating illegal gambling happening at a café in White Center over the last year.

Agents served a search warrant on the business on Feb. 5 and say they found electronic gambling machines, cards, dice and gambling records. The business has never had a license to operate gambling, officials with the Gambling Commission said.

The café was charging players an hourly fee to gamble, officials said.

Seven players and three employees were arrested and booked into the King County Jail on charges of professional gambling.

The business owner, whose name has not been released, was arrested at Sea-Tac Airport after returning from an international trip. He was booked into King County Jail on multiple charges, including ownership or interest in a gambling device, professional gambling, money laundering, and leading organized crime, which is a Class A Felony.

Officials with the Gambling Commission said this was not the first time the same café has been busted. Agents have conducted six other investigations into the café's illegal gambling activities dating back to 2004, officials said.