LA Game busted!

[warewulf]

An email I got this morning from one of my regular players. Coming from this person, I consider it 100% legit:


Hey guys,

I'm sending this info out to you who run games &
tourneys, so you can take all necessary precautions.
Feel free to pass this on to anyone else, but if you
forward this email, PLEASE PLEASE REMOVE my name and
email address.

I was playing in a typical cash game tonight, no-limit
$20 buy-in. About 30 minutes into it, one guy busted
out and went to the ATM to get more money. Back came
8-10 LAPD with shotguns and TEKs [censored] drawn with a
search warrant. (This is not a joke.) One by one we
were handcuffed, searched, sat down. Thankfully they
let all us players go after about an hour, citing us
for illegal gambling. Court appearance to follow in a
few weeks, and probable fine. The guy running it,
don't know what he's facing. I was gone before they
dealt with him, possibly taking him downtown, don't
know. They were confiscating everything gambling
related from his place. Yup... our tax dollars hard at
work, with the most understaffed metropolitan police
force in the nation, spending money and time on stuff
like this.

I tell you all this so that you can screen your
players if you don't know them. You've got to do this
from now on or it could just be a matter of time. You
probably either have to know them, or friends need to
vouch for who they are. Particularly since most of you
post your games at various websites.

Those of you outside the Los Angeles City limits may
not be at risk. Depends upon your city's ordanance
about this. As I was released, the cop explained that
any type of gambling for money is against the law
within the city limits as it's a city (not state)
ordinance. (Thus the reason all the card clubs/casinos
are outside of city limits.)

I will likely continue to play in some home games
around town (guess it depends upon how much my fine
will be), but you all need to be VERY CAREFUL now.
SCREEN your players. I know that makes it harder to
get a full game at times, but you gotta do it.

[SamIAm]

Was the game raked? What were the specifics of the arrangement?
-Sam

[toots]

Probably reported on the nooz as a major Al Queida bust.

[jon_1van]

[ QUOTE ]
Probably reported on the nooz as a major Al Queida bust.

[/ QUOTE ]

If you think this then you'll like

this

[pokerstudAA]

[ QUOTE ]
Probably reported on the nooz as a major Al Queida bust.

[/ QUOTE ]

Playing poker supports terrorism. I know the television told me so.

[warewulf]

[ QUOTE ]
Was the game raked? What were the specifics of the arrangement?
-Sam

[/ QUOTE ]

Apparently there was a rake being taken for food + the host wasn't even playing in the game, just dealing. It's causing quite a stir with all the hosts of games in the area. I'll post more when I hear. I'd like to find out exactly what he is being charged with and obviously what fines etc.

Strangely, the most disturbing part to me is the fact that they confiscated everything! I have a few sets of chips. One wouldn't kill me (well maybe a little), but if they took ALL my chips, including the collectable ones, they might have to shoot me first! [img]/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]

Also, there's sometimes smoking (420) at the game. I'm sure the police would have loved that as a bonus.

Meanwhile the freeway sniper is still on the loose...

[jon_1van]

[ QUOTE ]
Meanwhile the freeway sniper is still on the loose...


[/ QUOTE ]

nice

[audiopostman]

I play in some of these home games in the LA area so I just made a few phone calls to the local police departments and code enforcement. Turns out that even though home games are legal by California Penal code 337j, certain cities do still make it illegal. So far I have verified that it is illegal in the following cities:
Los Angeles, Glendale, Burbank, San Gabriel and even Sherman Oaks which apparently falls under the city of Los Angeles.

The fact that local police are busting these games is sad to hear. Does anyone know if there are any cities in Southern California where it is legal to have a home game?

[warewulf]

Yeah, totally lame. I figured it fell under the category of "laws not enforced". I don't know what led them to this game, but I just heard of a game tonight and Friday that were canceled.

I'm curious how they're going about finding out about these games. Mine is posted on the usual sites, but there's no address or phone number, just email. I wonder if an undercover narc is involved?

I'm going to close my game to new people in the meantime. Hopefully no more get busted. What a waste of tax dollars -- busting a $20 Poker game.

[audiopostman]

You can add the cities of Santa Monica and Gardena to the illegal list. But here is some good news, there is no city ordinance concerning gambiling in the city of Rancho Cucamonga, thus defaulting to CA penal code 337j. Rancho Cucamonga is good to go for home games.

Guess I'll start home shopping in that area [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]