Another Kitchener Club hit

The_Awesome

Link

Police break gambling operation
November 02, 2007
RECORD STAFF
KITCHENER

Five people have been charged in connection with a gambling operation police discovered while searching a building on King Street West late last night.

Members of the Ontario Provincial Police illegal gambling unit, as well as Waterloo regional police, searched the building at 119B King St. W. at about 11 p.m.

Police seized gaming tables, chips, cards, other gambling equipment and some drugs, OPP said in a news release.

Two suspects were charged with being found in a gaming house. Three others were charged with keeping a gaming house.

All have been released until their next court appearance.

The arrests conclude a five-month-long OPP investigation into illegal gambling in the region.

JimmyHo

two players, slow night or what? better to play outside on the sidewalk and avoid the arrest and rake. Conclusion is a good thing.

WaterLooser

Anyone know more information?

coolblue24

Sounds to me like it was The Shop.

Choron

It was...I know nothing else though...

actyper

I guess it was well worth the 5 month investigation.

Bust a complex gambling operation with 5 people involved. lol

Yeah tax money!

WaterLooser

From Today's KW record

Police seized gaming tables, chips and cards as well as cocaine and marijuana from the rented unit at 119B King St., the OPP said.

The gaming room busted Thursday, referred to in online promotions as "The Shop," operated as often as three nights a week and could pull in an estimated $1,500 a night, said Sword.

Sword said it was surprising to investigators to find another rake game operating after the recent highly publicized busts.
"It was kind of amazing that we did this takedown two weeks ago and they continued to operate," he said.

Since they are now charging the players too, it was almost nicer of them to come on a not so busy night. Did anyone not see this coming?

JohnnieH

Cocaine?? wtf?

morty

JohnnieH;129797 wroteCocaine?? wtf?

It was probably for personal use or they would have also mentioned charges of trafficking, don't you think?

Still, if it was one of the operators holding it, pretty stupid.

BlondeFish

From Guelph Mercury:

Two men were charged with keeping a common gaming house and three others were charged with being found in a gaming house.
Regional police also charged a 21-year-old man with possession of cocaine and possession of marijuana.
:
Police seized gaming tables, chips, cards and $8,425 in cash in those raids.
:
Despite the threat of discovery and criminal charges, operators still advertise the games on the Internet regularity, though most omit the actual location of the games.

An online Canadian poker forum has posts advertising games organized by The Shop over the past few months at locations in Kitchener and Cambridge.

The site also has posts advertising games at "The Chesterfield," the Waterloo poker room raided by police last month.

beanie42

BlondeFish;129801 wroteAn online Canadian poker forum has posts advertising games organized by The Shop over the past few months at locations in Kitchener and Cambridge.
The site also has posts advertising games at "The Chesterfield," the Waterloo poker room raided by police last month.

Since the OPP are obviously spying on the forum, could they PLEASE have the courtesy of posting contact information to get hold of them. I have had various questions on how to host legally, and have contacted them on multiple occasions using the information on their website without a response. Those of us who are trying to obey the law find it difficult when they won't answer our phone calls and emails.

Apologies for thread-jacking, but I'm sure they're checking these threads specifically to admire their handiwork...

Kristy

(@$*&%(*$&%(*&

liquidfire

what typically happens to the people charged??

Choron

They get fined I believe(the players)

DataMn

beanie42;129802 wroteSince the OPP are obviously spying on the forum, could they PLEASE have the courtesy of posting contact information to get hold of them. I have had various questions on how to host legally, and have contacted them on multiple occasions using the information on their website without a response. Those of us who are trying to obey the law find it difficult when they won't answer our phone calls and emails.

I think it's pretty obvious that the OPP does not want to be involved in telling people how to run a legal poker game. Even the AGCO states in their newsletters that they don't want to be involved in advising anyone how to run a legal poker game - it is up to people to hire legal counsel to ensure that they are compliant.

BTW - after doing some research on the AGCO sites, their position is that any place that sells alcohol and holds a poker game with an entry fee - even if they are not taking a rake - is considered to be non-compliant of AGCO regulations and risk fines or having their alcohol license revoked.

DataMn

BTW - I would love it if the OPP would prove me wrong!

JimmyHo

what if someone who loved the game of poker, and money was not an object. Lets say they rent a vacant warehouse and open it as Toronto's first poker club. There would be no rake on the tables, no food or drinks served and the dealers would get paid from tips from the players but no salary. Would there be any issues with this type of club? As there is no element of profit for the person running it, is it illegal and could it be closed down? Not sure if the dealers making tips would cause a problem. Wouldn't it be great if such a club existed just to stick it to the authorities.

-ev

pokerJAH;129852 wrotewhat if someone who loved the game of poker, and money was not an object. Lets say they rent a vacant warehouse and open it as Toronto's first poker club. There would be no rake on the tables, no food or drinks served and the dealers would get paid from tips from the players but no salary. Would there be any issues with this type of club?

It has been done. Guilty!

AcesFullPoker

Would still not be fine with the police. It would qualify as a Betting House - also illegal, as opposed to a Gaming House (which takes rake)

BlondeFish

That is correct. Some poker clubs have tried to find a loophole by replacing their rake with membership fees or tips, but it is still illegal. Unless you manage to get approved for a $25,000 charity license in Ontario, I don't know any legal way for organizers to make money from raked poker games.

AcesFullPoker;129870 wroteWould still not be fine with the police. It would qualify as a Betting House - also illegal, as opposed to a Gaming House (which takes rake)