Police shut down the Bristol Sports Club Wednesday and arrested three in connection with an illegal gambling operation, the State Police announced Wednesday afternoon.

Antonio DeMatos, 76, of 37 Wall St., Bristol, Norberto Pacheco, 71, of 163 Bradford St., Bristol, and Kevion Connolly, 55, of 75 Highland St., Canton, Mass., were all charged with organized criminal gambling and conspiracy after state and Bristol Police stormed the club early Wednesday morning, according to the state police report. Mr. DeMatos is the president of the club.

The arrests come at the end of the two-month-long investigation in which investigators learned the three men were operating slot machines on the second floor of the Bristol Sports Club, at 417 Wood St., State Police Col. Stephen O'Donnell announced.

The slot machines were kept in a secure room behind a door requiring a pass code, according to reports. Club members had access to four slot machines, and would cash in any winnings at the bar downstairs, police said. Mr. Connelly would reportedly travel from Massachusetts once a week to collect the cash from the machines. Police executed a search warrant shortly after Mr. Connelly arrived Wednesday, reports indicate.

Police found Mr. Pacheco at the downstairs bar Wednesday morning, reportedly with $3,700 in cash on him. Officers reportedly found $4,200 stacked on a table upstairs where Mr. Connelly was allegedly working on the machines, and more cash in a lock box behind the bar, stored with the slot machine payout slips. In all, police seized more than $11,000 from the club.

Next the to four working slot machines on the second floor was a large poster with detailed instructions on how to use the machines, according to police reports. A fifth machine was in a locked office, police reported, along with multiple betting slips and ledgers

During the search, Mr. Pacheco asked to contact his "boss," DeMatos, who voluntarily reported to the club and was arrested. Mr. Pacheco and Mr. DeMatos admitted to participating in the illegal operation, State Police said.

All three were arraigned in the Sixth Division District Court before Justice J. Terrence Houlihan. Mr. Pacheco and Mr. DeMatos were released on $10,000 personal recognizance and Mr. Connolly was released on $2,500 surety bail.

The investigation is ongoing and further arrests are possible.