Police raid illegal poker halls

Eight illegal gambling operations were broken up when detectives burst into the poker dens that officials said rake in illegal profits while fueling gambling addictions on Long Island, Suffolk District Attorney Thomas Spota said Thursday.

"Given the popularity of poker, particularly Texas Hold 'Em ... we are seeing that these facilities are proliferating," Spota said.

Nine poker managers were arrested and face misdemeanor charges.

Neighbors of some of the eight poker rooms raided Wednesday night by agents with the district attorney's office and Suffolk police said managers and players kept a low profile, revealing little about tournaments in discreet lounges run in rented, unmarked commercial spaces.

Joe Paternostro, the manager of a Holbrook car accessories shop next door to one of the raided gambling dens, said his neighbors played their music low and kept the back alley clean.

The only sign something was amiss, Paternostro said, was a steady stream of men going through the black glass door in the afternoon and not leaving until the next day. "You didn't know really what was going on, but you kind of knew, too," he said.

Despite the apparent low-key nature of the clubs, Spota said, The Play Room in Farmingville, The Palace II in Farmingdale and other sites were not without victims.

Illegal gambling historically attracts loan sharks and criminals looking to rip off cash-carrying players, Spota said.

He also pointed to the impact of gambling addiction on players and their families. "I can't tell you how many people have written to my office to complain about this," he said.

Agents involved in the undercover sting said players typically learned of the tournaments through e-mail and paid a $200 and $500 buy-in. Managers and bouncers required ID and references, and the house took a percentage of every hand played.

Along with $10,000 in cash, poker machines, casino-style poker tables, furniture and DVD players, agents also seized forms Spota said managers used to track players' credit. "These sheets are for people who lose their shirts and want to keep playing," Spota said.

The nine men arrested were all charged with promoting gambling, a class A misdemeanor; five of them also face a criminal nuisance charge or bench warrants. No players were arrested because gambling laws only apply to those profiting from the gambling business, Spota said.

Newsday

News Added: 09 November, 2007

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