Celeb launches Muncie, Indiana, poker club (indystar.com)
 

From the Indianapolis Star:

Celeb launches Muncie poker club

Associated Press

MUNCIE, Ind. -- Former "Tonight Show" announcer Ed McMahon helped open a new poker club in a renovated downtown building.

McMahon, who was Johnny Carson's longtime sidekick, joined Mayor Dan Canan in cutting the ribbon Tuesday night on the Royal Crown Hold 'Em Club, which was opening to the public today.

McMahon told some Carson anecdotes, met with fans as he signed copies of his book, "Here's Johnny," and planned to play a round of poker. He also recalled spending time on the road with his father as a child.

"By the time I was four, I was in 40 states, so I probably traveled through Muncie," he said.

Several of those attending the opening said they were impressed with the club, which has dark purple walls with red and yellow trim. The main floor and a mezzanine area were filled with oval poker tables.

"This just looks professional," Joel Babcock said. "It's what it's made for. It will keep me coming back."

The city already has several other poker clubs, but they are generally set up in available large open spaces. The Royal Crown club also opened with more fanfare, looking to take advantage of the popularity of Texas Hold 'Em poker games.

The legality of the games have been challenged, but since the Royal Crown club is neither a bingo hall nor a bar it does not have a charity gaming permit or liquor license at risk.

Delaware County Prosecutor Richard Reed has said he considers poker a game of skill and not luck and that he would be unlikely to pursue any criminal charges against those gambling on the game.

Ryan Clements, one of the club's owners, said he was pleased with opening night's crowd.

"We'll have over 100 people here for the game," he said. "I'm very excited by the turnout."

Re: Celeb launches Muncie, Indiana, poker club (indystar.com)
 

Excellent. Sounds like there will be some soft games. Hope some one posts a trip report as to what they are spreading.

Re: Celeb launches Muncie, Indiana, poker club (indystar.com)
 

From the title I assumed that Bob Ross came back from the dead to open this and paint some happy little trees.

Re: Celeb launches Muncie, Indiana, poker club (indystar.com)
 

Does anyone have any info on where this is, what kind of games it spreads, tournaments, etc? From a quick google, I don't see a website setup for it, which is disappointing. I make a few trips to Indy every couple months and this would be a good side trip instead of the usual Indy club I visit.

Re: Celeb launches Muncie, Indiana, poker club (indystar.com)
 

I just saw it mentioned on Cardsquad but can't find anything out about it either. Please post if you know. What defines it as a poker 'club'? Do they charge admittance but no rake? Last I heard, this would all be considered illegal in Indiana.

Re: Celeb launches Muncie, Indiana, poker club (indystar.com)
 

aphoward...what clubs do you frequent...I travel to indy often and I didn't even know they had clubs.

Re: Celeb launches Muncie, Indiana, poker club (indystar.com)
 

Well there was a big fiasco with one getting closed down on the west side of Indy a few weeks ago, but the one I go to is considered "private", so that supposedly makes it legal. I guess they have it worked out with the local authorities. You can PM me for info.

Anyways, I am still looking for info on McMahon's club.

Re: Celeb launches Muncie, Indiana, poker club (indystar.com)
 

I will have to check this out when I go visit my family in a couple weeks. If anyone has info on this, I would appreciate it as well. A PM would be fine.

Thanks,

Re: Celeb launches Muncie, Indiana, poker club (indystar.com)
 

I found another story in another local paper. Mostly the same stuff as above, but a couple new sentences. Apparently the club is downtown Muncie, as they quote the mayor as being supportive of the renovation.


[ QUOTE ]
McMahon, dressed in an overcoat, gloves and scarf, told some Johnny Carson anecdotes and helped Mayor Dan Canan cut the ribbon on the Royal Crown Hold ‘Em Club along Walnut Street.
...
Several people said they were impressed with the club, which featured dark purple walls with red and yellow trim. The main floor and a mezzanine area were filled with oval poker tables.

“This just looks professional,” said Joel Babcock, who said he would be playing poker. “It’s what it’s made for. It will keep me coming back.”

Kenneth Myers said he wasn’t a poker player, but said Clements and his partners did “a great job” with the renovation.

“It’s pretty classy,” Myers said.
...
Canan said he was glad the building was renovated.

“The investment in the building has certainly improved the downtown,” Canan said. “It’s continuing the belief that the downtown is worth investing in.”

Although several poker clubs operate locally, the Royal Crown club opened with more fanfare — including the ribbon-cutting and appearance by McMahon — than most, which have generally set up in available large open spaces.

[/ QUOTE ]

If anyone does go or manages to get more info, I'd appreciate hearing about it too. Either here or PM is fine. Thanks.

Re: Celeb launches Muncie, Indiana, poker club (indystar.com)
 

I would be interested in this as well, Please post or PM me. Also if anyone is familiar with some in the Fort Wayne area.

Re: Celeb launches Muncie, Indiana, poker club (indystar.com)
 

I wish them the best of luck. Seriously. Having said that, I’d be surprised if this place is open longer than a week. It’s all well and good that the local DA and mayor are supportive, but there are probably some state officials who see things very differently. Last year casinos in Indiana generated 3/4 of a billion dollars in tax revenue. There’s no way the state’s just going to sit on their hands and let an unlicensed unregulated untaxed cardroom operate and potentially suck customers away from the legal tax paying casinos. If they had kept this on the down low, given that the local officials were willing to turn a blind eye, they might have been OK. Now that a story has been published in the media, I think their goose is cooked. If the state doesn’t step in and clamp down immediately, rooms like this will be popping up all over. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

Re: Celeb launches Muncie, Indiana, poker club (indystar.com)
 

I missed the part where the room said it wasn't going to pay any taxes.

Re: Celeb launches Muncie, Indiana, poker club (indystar.com)
 

[ QUOTE ]
I missed the part where the room said it wasn't going to pay any taxes.

[/ QUOTE ]

What he means is that most states that have legalized gambling have created special taxes for the casino's/card rooms to pay. This may be in the form of licensing fees or taxes on the drop. Presumably this card room is going to pay their property taxes if they own the property and they will pay the same general taxes that any business would pay but no gaming tax.

Re: Celeb launches Muncie, Indiana, poker club (indystar.com)
 

[ QUOTE ]

Ryan Clements, one of the club's owners, said he was pleased with opening night's crowd.


[/ QUOTE ]

Whoa -- I graduated from high school with that guy -- small world. Good luck to you sir.

B.

Re: Celeb launches Muncie, Indiana, poker club (indystar.com)
 

I actually know the guy quoted as one of the owners -- haven't talked to him in awhile, but I went to high school with him in Muncie, and I know a lot of people in Muncie, so I'll try and see what I can find out.

B.

Re: Celeb launches Muncie, Indiana, poker club (indystar.com)
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I missed the part where the room said it wasn't going to pay any taxes.

[/ QUOTE ]

What he means is that most states that have legalized gambling have created special taxes for the casino's/card rooms to pay. This may be in the form of licensing fees or taxes on the drop. Presumably this card room is going to pay their property taxes if they own the property and they will pay the same general taxes that any business would pay but no gaming tax.

[/ QUOTE ]

Back in 1987 or so, Indiana passed legislation allowing (if I recall correctly) a limited number of licenses for riverboat casinos in addition to legalizing and creating a lottery in the state. Recent (past two years of) news reports about the riverboat license granted in Orange County (French Lick) stated that it was the final license remaining. So there's big money to be had by controlling one of these casino licenses. I will be very suprised if the existing riverboats don't put pressure on the state to shut this place down.

Ultimately, though, it would be up to the state attorney general to bring charges to shut this place down - not local officials. Other card rooms have been shut down; I posted an Indianapolis Star article about one in SW Indy about a month ago.

The contention I got from the articles was that the owners believed that their card room didn't violate any laws because poker is a game of skill and does not require the element of chance. While people can debate this point, I'm impressed with the panache of the owners of this place. I'm sure they realize by operating so openly, they're inviting the attorney general to try and shut them down.

By by their actions of renovating prominent real estate and inviting local officials, a celebrity, and media coverage to their grand opening, they appear to have taken the first step in beating any challenge. The first thing the AG would try to do is show the public how shady this place is and how gambling must be relegated to legitimate venues (i.e. riverboats). By taking the route they have, they've relegated the AG to using law rather than scare tactics and fear to force the room out of business.

Anyway, that's my $0.02. Thoughts, comments?

Re: Celeb launches Muncie, Indiana, poker club (indystar.com)
 

Can someone PM me their contact info? I would like to stop by and play on my next trip to my sister's house.

Re: Celeb launches Muncie, Indiana, poker club (indystar.com)
 

Just wondering why people are assuming an actual business, being promoted in teh media, and affiliated with a "celebrity", would not have researched enough to determine if it was legal for them to operate in the locale they choose? Since no one apparently has any details about this place, you have no idea how it is being run, and how exactly it does/doesn't violate Indiana Gaming law. The club I visit in Indy specifically considers themselves legal (and apparently have been told so by authorities) because they a) are a "private" club, and do not take any rake or fees from games, they only charge a membership/seat fee.

Re: Celeb launches Muncie, Indiana, poker club (indystar.com)
 

I live in Muncie and am also curious about this place. There are a few other places in town, but from what I understand all they offer are tournaments. I've never been to any of them because I'm not really into rebuy-crazy tourneys, but if this new place actually had cash games that would be great. It would be very nice to be able to drive 10 minutes to play in a good 10/20 game as opposed 3 hours down to Caesars.

Re: Celeb launches Muncie, Indiana, poker club (indystar.com)
 

I was back home in Muncie for a week for spring break and I stopped into this place to check out the action. I can give more details if people want them, but it was their first real night open (the Ed McMahon thing was not for any cash, just fun). They have nothing but sit-n-go's including 10+4 quickies running all day. They also have two 40+10's every night and a bigger 260+40 on saturday and an 85+15 on sunday. Give them a buzz at 765-288-ACES...

The rakes were big, there were only 6 people at my $50 "Main Event" on that night and the payout structure sucked. The chip colors used were way off (25 gray, 50 red, etc etc). The table felt will probably have to be replaced in a few weeks. It was the cheapo felt from the fabric store. I didn't like how I had to pay close to 2 bucks for a soda.

The dealer at my table allowed people to win the pot by only showing one card, i.e., you have the ace? its good. I tried to correct her several times but no one else at the table had a clue. There were about 10 dealers standing there watching us (it was the only game at the time).

I also played in Caesers and let me say - it is worth the 3 hour drive from Muncie compared to this place.

Re: Celeb launches Muncie, Indiana, poker club (indystar.com)
 

Sweet. Thanks for the trip report. Definitely will head the other direction from Indy then.

Re: Celeb launches Muncie, Indiana, poker club (indystar.com)
 

[ QUOTE ]
The chip colors used were way off (25 gray, 50 red, etc etc). The table felt will probably have to be replaced in a few weeks. It was the cheapo felt from the fabric store. I didn't like how I had to pay close to 2 bucks for a soda.

The dealer at my table allowed people to win the pot by only showing one card, i.e., you have the ace? its good. I tried to correct her several times but no one else at the table had a clue. There were about 10 dealers standing there watching us (it was the only game at the time).

[/ QUOTE ]

pretty sick stuff. sad, really.

Re: Celeb launches Muncie, Indiana, poker club (indystar.com)
 

[ QUOTE ]
I was back home in Muncie for a week for spring break and I stopped into this place to check out the action. I can give more details if people want them, but it was their first real night open (the Ed McMahon thing was not for any cash, just fun). They have nothing but sit-n-go's including 10+4 quickies running all day. They also have two 40+10's every night and a bigger 260+40 on saturday and an 85+15 on sunday. Give them a buzz at 765-288-ACES...

The rakes were big, there were only 6 people at my $50 "Main Event" on that night and the payout structure sucked. The chip colors used were way off (25 gray, 50 red, etc etc). The table felt will probably have to be replaced in a few weeks. It was the cheapo felt from the fabric store. I didn't like how I had to pay close to 2 bucks for a soda.

The dealer at my table allowed people to win the pot by only showing one card, i.e., you have the ace? its good. I tried to correct her several times but no one else at the table had a clue. There were about 10 dealers standing there watching us (it was the only game at the time).

I also played in Caesers and let me say - it is worth the 3 hour drive from Muncie compared to this place.

[/ QUOTE ]

Unfortunately, that was about what I expected. If they could actually serve alcohol, I'd probably at least give it a look.

Re: Celeb launches Muncie, Indiana, poker club (indystar.com)
 

I should be heading there soon, only a little over an hour from my house.