Cracking down on home poker games
Good to see San Mateo County police so hard at work:
Police in San Mateo County, California apparently first spent months investigating the small-stakes poker game. From this firsthand account, it looks like a couple of the officers were playing regularly for several weeks before sending in the SWAT team, guns drawn, last week.
It’s a $20 – $50 game. Sebastian asks:
Can someone explain to me why this is a crime?
Depends. In some places, it’s a crime because you’re avoiding taxes and registration. In other places, it’s because you’re too stupid and untrustworthy to decide how to waste your money.
January 15th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Well, if you don’t need the cash and can waste it on a game, the government can find a better use for it, I’m sure
What pisses me off is the fact that there were two cops there undercover, who knew everyone, and yet SWAT was deemed necessary? That is Jack-Booted Thuggery right there
January 15th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
I guess it’s easier and safer than trying to apprehend criminals…
January 15th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Because they’re from San Mateo and too stupid to drive down Hwy 101 a half-hour to San Jose’s 101 Cardroom and play at a casino?? The couple of officers probably lost money and then they decided on the take-down.
January 15th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
I’m guessing that apart from traffic control, we should consider all police action to be doorkicking?
January 15th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
A game this size is a social event. It’s not gambling. It’s te same as a few buddies sitting around watching the game on the tube. How the hell did the cops get to sit in?
January 15th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Helvetix Says:
January 15th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
I’m guessing that apart from traffic control, we should consider all police action to be doorkicking?
That’s what it’s looking like.
January 15th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
I did this exact same thing in college. We had hold’em nights and people were asked to chip in for pizza & beer (or bring their own) We didn’t take a percentage rake of the winnings, and neither did these guys. Asking for money for refreshments isn’t illegal.
I guess in San Mateo I’d be considered a criminal.
January 16th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Funny but I read that the $5 fee was a contribution to the pizza and beer fund and had nothing to do with the gambling. How is that a rake-off for the house as everybody is free to share in the pizza and beer?
This is just another example of wannabe tough guys too cowardly to actually do anything tough, so they go for the easy ones.