Posted Mon Feb 27, 2006 12:55 pm GMT by BeerWench13
There were two local homes that got raided by police last week. They confiscated laptops, cash and checks from one of the places. There were no games going on at the times of the raids, but they are still investigating these people and others associated with them. Rumor has it that one of them was a police officer who quit his job to run poker games for a living. Not the brightest crayon in the box, if you ask me.
Everyone is in an uproar in our local "poker community" about it. All I can say is that it was a matter of time. I had played at one of the games once, but never went back because their rake was huge. They took 10% of the pot on the flop, 10% on the turn and another 10% on the river. They were raping, not raking. They also had a game of at least 2 tables going every night of the week and they advertised their games on the net. A lot of players in the area are complaining about the police raiding "friendly" poker games when there are rapists and murderers on the loose.
I, personally, feel that they got way too greedy and got what they deserved. I'm not privy to exact numbers, but the night I played there they emptied the rake bin on the table I was playing at least 3 times and each time there was a minimum of $50-100 in the bin. I was told that the night I played was a slow night too. I was only there for about 2 1/2-3 hours so you do the math. This was just one table of 7 people on one night. Greedy bastards!
Have any of you seen this in your area?
It started north of us when a home game got robbed at gunpoint. The police are now investigating any regular home game. The game I play in doesn't take a rake or charge to play, so technically it's legal, but I'm wondering if it would be a good idea just to lay low for a while and skip the games until I know for sure that it's not under investigation also. I know it's only a class C misdemeanor, but I still don't want that on my record. I've already been in the wrong place at the wrong time trying to help a friend and gotten one before.
Any suggestions, advice or otherwise?
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Posted Mon Feb 27, 2006 1:15 pm GMT by Oldgzer
10% rake huh?  0 For that kind of scratch they better have been providing some fine lager and sammiches.
If it's legal to have a home game in your area, and you're on good terms with the people who host it, I don't see why you shouldn't still want to play there. Investigation or not, if the game is on the up and up there shouldn't be any concerns.
About the game that got robbed at gunpoint, was there a rake being taken, maybe a recent altercation? From what I've noticed--it's usually the game where anybody with $$ on them can show up and play that are targeted for a robbery. I've played at both these and invite-only games and I can say that the latter is always a better/safer environment.
//my 2 cents
Posted Mon Feb 27, 2006 1:21 pm GMT by BeerWench13
| Quote: | | 10% rake huh? 0 For that kind of scratch they better have been providing some fine lager and sammiches. |
Shasta and subs do not a 10% rake merit.
I'm not sure about the game that was robbed, to be honest. I heard about it through the grapevine and it was referenced in a recent news article.
The thing about all of this is that the law in our state is rather ambiguous. We have signed a petition sent to our local governer requesting that the law be more easily definable, especially in regards to poker. If you read the law, it says that any money changing hands for a chance to win a prize is illegal, but wouldn't that make raffles, the lottery, etc. illegal? It's just not specific enough to know for sure.
The games I play are by invite only and I've known the host and most of the players for many years so I find them trustworthy.
Posted Mon Feb 27, 2006 1:53 pm GMT by Pokerfarian
Not that I would consider this a "crime", but typically, criminal enterprises come to the attention of the authorities when one of the members becomes disatisfied.
10% rake might just do that.
There are many ways to run a game and be conviction proof; few to run one and be "bust proof"; none if you piss people off.
Posted Mon Feb 27, 2006 2:37 pm GMT by golddog
| BeerWench13 wrote: | | I know it's only a class C misdemeanor, but I still don't want that on my record. |
Felonies or nothin'?
I haven't heard anything out this way about games being busted, but there was a story on the news the other week that said internet poker is against Colorado law. We have low-stakes gambling in a few mountain towns, I think it had something to do with not following their rules.
As long as you're not doing the obviously stupid things you mention that these goofs were doing, I wouldn't worry too much about your home game. Just to be safe, make sure you're all regulars though.
Posted Mon Feb 27, 2006 2:45 pm GMT by BeerWench13
| Quote: | | Felonies or nothin'? |
Well, it's a felony for the "operator" who is making a profit at the game but only a misdemeanor for the players.
I would never host a game at my house without knowing and specifically inviting each player mainly because I don't want someone stealing my stuff.
Posted Mon Feb 27, 2006 3:08 pm GMT by zeroswarm
I still think it sucks that you can get in trouble for hosting a game of poker.
If u keep the limits low and run a fair game then I really can't see your doing much harm to anyone.
Lets face it, if people are busy all night losing 20 dollars in a card game then they sure as hell ain't out getting up to mischief anywhere else...
Posted Mon Feb 27, 2006 4:13 pm GMT by golddog
I meant you wouldn't want to ruin your track record of felonies with just a misdemeanor.
I didn't phrase the joke well, sorry. Maybe I should've said, "nothin' but felonies for you, then?"
Posted Mon Feb 27, 2006 4:25 pm GMT by BeerWench13
It's Monday and it's the first Monday I've had to work (meaning I had to get up before 10am) in about 3 months so I'm just not quick today.
Actually, I haven't any felonies to date and have never been caught in a murder rap. Only a misdemeanor from going somewhere to pay for something for a friend and walking into a huge disagreement that involved me taking the heat to keep my friend out of trouble. No good deed goes unpunished.
Posted Mon Feb 27, 2006 5:27 pm GMT by UrAteUp
Wench I think the cops are just after you honestly. They just want to frisk you.... 
I have heard about some local games getting busted here but not much happened because they were some pretty important people. I have heard of a few other small home games but so far it seems nothing has ever happened to them. From my understanding they don't rake or take. They just ask people to chip in for the suds and grub.
Posted Mon Feb 27, 2006 7:12 pm GMT by golddog
If it's any solace Wench, you've stolen the hearts of many of the guys who frequent the board...
Posted Mon Feb 27, 2006 11:34 pm GMT by howzit
don't worry about losing these home games and getting raped by the rake.
there's a new game in town and it's printing money. sign up here, and do it soon before 1988TR is driving around in a Fiat! and holla at your boy.
Posted Tue Feb 28, 2006 12:19 am GMT by 1988 TR
| howzit wrote: | don't worry about losing these home games and getting raped by the rake.
there's a new game in town and it's printing money. sign up here, and do it soon before 1988TR is driving around in a Fiat! and holla at your boy. |
LOL
10 bucks a pop. Come and get it! lol
Posted Tue Feb 28, 2006 12:18 pm GMT by 1988 TR
| howzit wrote: | | and do it soon before 1988TR is driving around in a Fiat! and holla at your boy. |
Trust me - If I relied on poker as a source of income, I wouldn't even be able to afford a car! I pay for other's cars. LOL I am a LOSER.
Posted Tue Feb 28, 2006 12:23 pm GMT by BeerWench13
| Quote: | | there's a new game in town |
No way. I'm scared to death of TR.
| Quote: | | Trust me - If I relied on poker as a source of income, I wouldn't even be able to afford a car! I pay for other's cars. LOL I am a LOSER. |
Said the Spider to the Fly.
Posted Tue Feb 28, 2006 1:14 pm GMT by Sid Lambert
if you don't mind, wut area are you in wench?....i just played a local game w/ 180 ppl for $60 at a fire dept....there were uniforms there not giving a crap...
...and if you don't like that rake, don't play there....totally unjustified for them to be arrested imho....i'm against laws that outlaw peaceful activities (i.e. something that doesn't hurt anybody else)
Posted Tue Feb 28, 2006 1:26 pm GMT by BeerWench13
I live in Virginia.
| Quote: | | if you don't like that rake, don't play there |
I didn't know they even had a rake until I sat at the table and saw the dealer rake the first pot (which I won). I haven't played there since. They don't even rake that much in AC and I get free beer there.
| Quote: | | totally unjustified for them to be arrested imho |
I agree, but they were raking in somewhere in the $100k range on a weekly basis. There is no way Uncle Sam is going to let them keep that money tax-free. No matter how you look at it, it comes down to money. If they reported that as earnings and paid taxes on it, the government would've probably helped them promote their game. 
I don't have a problem with them covering their costs, but they were going to the extreme, they got greedy and ruined a lot of other games in the process.
BTW, as far as I know, no one has been arrested yet. They are "under investigation" and the police confiscated some articles for proof. What really killed me was that people were cashing their paychecks in for poker chips at one of the games (I never played there) and the guy running the show (who quit his job as a police officer to do so) had records of everything on his laptop. You would think he'd have known better having been a police officer. As my signature says, stupidity has no limits.
Posted Tue Feb 28, 2006 1:31 pm GMT by Sid Lambert
i'll go along w/ that....they're just like the mob....they just want a cut :
Posted Tue Feb 28, 2006 5:07 pm GMT by Fat Tony
Wench, you can come and play at my house. The local cops will be in attendance and i promise they won't give a crap about the fact that there is a poker game going on. 8)
They won't give a crap because they'll also be playing.
Posted Fri Mar 31, 2006 9:57 am GMT by BeerWench13
Update...
| Quote: | Police officer, spouse, mom face gambling charges
BY MARK BOWES AND JIM NOLAN
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITERS Mar 31, 2006
RELATED: Police Beat
A Richmond police officer, her ex-policeman husband and her mother have been charged with participating in an illegal gambling operation at the mother's Henrico County home.
The officer, Goldie Rene Weaver, 31, of the 3000 block of Overton Road; her husband, Michael Dean McCray, 30, of the same address; and Judith Marshall Weaver, 55, of the 2400 block of Vollmer Road, were charged yesterday under sealed indictments. The indictments were returned March 22 by a Richmond area multijurisdictional grand jury.
Gambling was conducted at the Vollmer Road residence for at least two years, between Jan. 1, 2004, and Feb. 11, 2006, the indictments allege. On some occasions, a source told The Times-Dispatch, the house "cut" paid to the operators was several thousand dollars.
Goldie Weaver, an eight-year veteran of the Richmond Police Department, was charged with aiding and abetting an illegal gambling operation. The source said Weaver allegedly performed several duties during the poker games, including dealing cards.
McCray, a former Richmond police officer, was charged with conducting an illegal gambling operation. Judith Weaver was charged with permitting gambling at her home and aiding and abetting the operation.
"The evidence is going to be that . . . multiple variations of different card games were being played at a private residence," said Duncan Reid, deputy com- monwealth's attorney for Henrico. He declined to provide further details.
Richmond police officials said Goldie Weaver has been placed on administrative leave without pay, and with the intent to dismiss. Before the indictment she had been on administrative leave with pay.
"No police officer is held to any different standard than any other citizen," said Richmond Police Chief Rodney Monroe. "When it's identified that one of our members is involved in inappropriate or criminal behavior, we will aggressively investigate those individuals under the law."
Goldie Weaver, a martial-arts expert, had most recently been assigned to the Drug Enforcement Administration task force. |
Posted Fri Mar 31, 2006 12:34 pm GMT by Sid Lambert
why are there so many laws that outlaw peaceful activities? :x
Posted Fri Mar 31, 2006 2:39 pm GMT by kainARGH
| Sid Lambert wrote: | | why are there so many laws that outlaw peaceful activities? :x |
I would have to agree with you that its not only silly , but pathetic and makes me sad that more smart people aren't in charge of things :
Posted Fri Mar 31, 2006 3:55 pm GMT by TxShadow
The timing of you starting this thread freaks me out a little bit. There is a local card room here (Dallas) that I found out about. It's a cool place; laid back, free food and drinks, etc. Rake isn't too bad. One of the guys that works there is an ex-cop as well. Anyway, I've always wondered if the local police knew about the place or even care?
Then, just last week I saw on the news where in a neighboring city/suburb a cardroom had gotten busted and all the money confiscated and such. I wonder if the gov is cracking down on this sort of thing.
To add to the legality debate, I totally agree that it seems stupid to spend time, effort, manhours, and money to go after something as harmless as people playing cards. However, the fact remains that the operators are running a business that isn't being regulated by tax authorities. It would be like anyone starting up a business, making a profit, and then not reporting their income.
It seems like the simple solution would be to legalize it. Then cardrooms would be legitimate, taxed businesses. However, without some stipulations, this would also make it legal for larger gambling establishments, cardrooms, and casinos to open up. I personally wouldn't want a big ass Casino here in Dallas. Though it would be convenient, traffic everywhere would be even worse than it is. I'm sure this would be the case in a lot of major cities.
Anyway, I'm rambling now. I'm sure there would be a way to reach a happy medium, and the government (is this mostly state gov regulated?) should really start looking into it. Card playing is becoming increasingly popular and I'm sure they could save a lot of time, money, and effort by addressing the issue and coming up with a good solution.
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