[Midnight Rose]

(I'm in Michigan, but this one hits close to home for me.)

-From pokerlistings.com

A Virginia Beach, VA, man has been accused of running an illegal poker operation out of the banquet room of a hotel, it was reported by The Virginian-Pilot. James E. Owens, 32, was arrested last month during a police raid of the Tropicana Hotel that saw nearly $9,500 seized from a poker game. If convicted, Owen could face up to five years in prison and a $2,500 fine.

A grand jury indicted Owens on Monday for operating the weekly poker game. Authorities claim the operation ran every Wednesday night during January and February and featured a minimum of two 8- to 10-player poker tables. Owen reportedly supplied players with food and drink and collected rake. Players were required to buy-in to each game.

According to Virginia state law, an illegal gambling operation is defined as any private card game where an "operator" takes a cut of the wagers. Games played at establishments looking to increase their sales through poker are also considered illegal under state law.

Please see Virginia Beach Poker Game Busted By Cops for additional details. http://www.pokerlistings.com/virgini...oker-game-6161

[Colquhoun]

I thought that it was common knowledge that if you raked pots, it was only a matter of time before you were caught and charged with illegal gambling. I guess he thought he could get away with it....

[zbme]

Why can't we all get together and create a grass roots effort to end the prohibition of poker? I registered the domain name endpokerprohibition.com If anyone can host the site I will redirect the domain name to your site or maybe we can get one of those online petitions going.

I am tired of hearing about people getting busted for this. Poker should not be illegal.

What do you all say? Are you in?

[Dissolved]

If they made poker Legal How well do you think Casinos would fare?

I Don't think Poker would be so big if it was completely Legal.

Plus that guy was a dumba.. for doing it in a hotel! They cant Fine Him tho, If they take 9k from his poker game, To Fine him 2500 more wont slove anything. House arest with no visitors for 3 months would be better. That way he couldnt Try to do it again to gain back the money he lost (unless he went online).

[zbme]

Originally Posted by Dissolved

If they made poker Legal How well do you think Casinos would fare?

.

I could care less about casinos. I would rather play at a poker club than a casino any day. I don't play slots Which by the way is where casinos make most of their money. Poker rooms are often time run at a loss for a casino anyway.

As for other forms of gambling I just stay away anyway, so casinos are the least of my worries. Now if I had stock in a casino maybe I would care .... a little.

[ink_junkie]

I don't have a problem with "home" games that take a rake being illegal. Quite frankly they should be illegal because the operator is not paying any taxes, operating a business without a license, likely not providing any security for the patrons, etc... Most of the games where you hear about a robbery occuring are at home games where they take a rake, so obviously that money is not going toward security. Just going into the pocket of someone looking to make a fast buck, and likely at your expense.

Now if you want to make it easier for people to legally open cardrooms and make a profit, I'm all for that cause. And if you're running a home game and just looking to make a few bucks to cover expenses, have a donation bucket for people to toss a few bucks in to cover beer, food, or whatever.

[Midnight Rose]

Originally Posted by zbme

Why can't we all get together and create a grass roots effort to end the prohibition of poker? I registered the domain name endpokerprohibition.com If anyone can host the site I will redirect the domain name to your site or maybe we can get one of those online petitions going.

I am tired of hearing about people getting busted for this. Poker should not be illegal.

What do you all say? Are you in?

You might want to check out the Poker Players Alliance, which is made for just this thing. Which reminds me, I need to go join myself.
http://www.pokerplayersalliance.org/

Just joined. $20, I figure, is a good buy-in to help protect the game I love.

[_GUN_]

I think the poker boom will die down, but I don't think it will vanish. Some people think of televised poker like reality tv, that it's a fad. Anyone with any sense realizes what goes up comes down, but doesn't fade out when it comes down necessarily.

Necessity is the mother of invention. The revenue of internet poker coupled with the hassles of tracking down illegal games will lead to new legislature. I honestly believe in the next decade we'll see states legalize card rooms strictly for games like poker. California recognizes poker as a game of skill, not a game of chance. California sets a lot of precadents in American politics, and I think the dominoes will fall into place for legal card rooms.

I like to envision private clubs that are set up like lodges or country clubs. Private clubs that take a rake or charge membership fees and offer food to the players.

I always think of a real life Chesterfield where you show an ID card, and then enter.

[MeridianFC]

Raked game = bad. As above you're running a business not hosting a game.

Now there is some gray area I can appreciate where the host might try recoup some food and drink cost, but as long as that's not mandatory and the participants are all enjoy the fruits (or pizzas and beer) of that, no harm no foul. Far from a legally satisfying declaration, more just an opinion from a player/host.

The above incident sounds like it might be a bit above a normal friendly game, though $9K for 20 players is far from Teddy KGB land.

[ink_junkie]

Originally Posted by _GUN_

I think the poker boom will die down, but I don't think it will vanish. ... I like to envision private clubs that are set up like lodges or country clubs. Private clubs that take a rake or charge membership fees and offer food to the players. I always think of a real life Chesterfield where you show an ID card, and then enter.

It'll die down, but probably stay more popular than it was in the past. I' think poker has always been fairly popular, particulary with people that work in the gambling industry and people in the military.

As far as the private clubs or lodges go, lots of fraternal organizations have a weekly game. Requires membership but it makes for a good time.