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

[Tom1975]

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.

[cardcounter0]

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

[psandman]

[ 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.

[StlCardsBlues]

[ 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.

[StlCardsBlues]

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.

[IndyGuy]

[ 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?

[steamboatin]

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

[aphoward]

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.

[pauliewalnuts]

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.

[lowpockets]

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.