Raid on NYC clubs underway right now.
 

The police are shutting down private poker clubs tonight in NYC. If you have a friend out in a club call them and tell them to cash out now. One of my friend's spots just got popped, they brought Chanel 11 news - I guess this is the police departs way of saying "we wont be embarrassed again"

As always - no details please unless its already been discussed in the news and we can verify it here, this includes discussions about security. Thanks in advance.

Re: Raid on NYC clubs underway right now.
 

Yeah this seems to be the case. My friend just walked by the one on the left side of town and called to tell me there were cops out in front [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

Re: Raid on NYC clubs underway right now.
 

This is both unsurprising and sucky.

Re: Raid on NYC clubs underway right now.
 

[censored]

Re: Raid on NYC clubs underway right now.
 

[ QUOTE ]
The police are shutting down private poker clubs tonight in NYC. If you have a friend out in a club call them and tell them to cash out now. One of my friend's spots just got popped, they brought Chanel 11 news - I guess this is the police departs way of saying "we wont be embarrassed again"

As always - no details please unless its already been discussed in the news and we can verify it here, this includes discussions about security. Thanks in advance.

[/ QUOTE ]

are they raiding the brooklyn/queens clubs too? or is it just manhattan?
hopefully us smaller clubs slip under the radar, and i have no choice but to keep it open with sign-in buyins...don't the city clubs make enough rake to massage the right people?

Re: Raid on NYC clubs underway right now.
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The police are shutting down private poker clubs tonight in NYC. If you have a friend out in a club call them and tell them to cash out now. One of my friend's spots just got popped, they brought Chanel 11 news - I guess this is the police departs way of saying "we wont be embarrassed again"

As always - no details please unless its already been discussed in the news and we can verify it here, this includes discussions about security. Thanks in advance.

[/ QUOTE ]

are they raiding the brooklyn/queens clubs too? or is it just manhattan?


[/ QUOTE ]

Jeez. Why don't you call 911 and ask.

Re: Raid on NYC clubs underway right now.
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The police are shutting down private poker clubs tonight in NYC. If you have a friend out in a club call them and tell them to cash out now. One of my friend's spots just got popped, they brought Chanel 11 news - I guess this is the police departs way of saying "we wont be embarrassed again"

As always - no details please unless its already been discussed in the news and we can verify it here, this includes discussions about security. Thanks in advance.

[/ QUOTE ]

are they raiding the brooklyn/queens clubs too? or is it just manhattan?
hopefully us smaller clubs slip under the radar, and i have no choice but to keep it open with sign-in buyins...don't the city clubs make enough rake to massage the right people?

[/ QUOTE ]


oh I'm sure you're safe. nothing to worry about.

Re: Raid on NYC clubs underway right now.
 

Actual camera phone photo of the raid in progress. I have been able to confirm two clubs hit this evening so far.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y14...676552edc4.jpg

Since WPIX was on the scene shooting from the outside, i guess its safe to post these photos as well

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y14...06ea2f7f12.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y14...f9cbed7853.jpg

Re: Raid on NYC clubs underway right now.
 

Channel 11 news this morning in NYC -- first tease was for this story -- lots of recognizable faces being arrested. [censored] [censored] [censored] Cops brought their own media crew from the sixth best TV newscast in NY.

Edit: From newscast: Address given (in Chelsea). They say 13 people were arrested. More than 100 people inside at the time. Gamblers arrested. Show bags of chips being taken out by cops. Claim "up to $10M collected in a year"

Re: Raid on NYC clubs underway right now.
 

bleh [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

Re: Raid on NYC clubs underway right now.
 

[ QUOTE ]
This is both unsurprising and sucky.

[/ QUOTE ]
recent events most likely prompted all this

Re: Raid on NYC clubs underway right now.
 

Nothing online at WPIX (Channel 11 News) that I could find. But I did find this odd tidbit at the Daily News.

Echoing the hard-line stance of new NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, Eric Mangini has lectured the Jets on the importance of staying on the right side of the law. The coach is trying to build a team of wholesome players, and one player near the top of his list is Jonathan Vilma.

Except for one slip of the tongue - he compared illegal dogfighting to horse racing last week in a radio interview - Vilma has forged a solid reputation on and off the field. The talented linebacker is the latest to shoot a soup commercial with his mother, and what could be more anti-Pacman than that?

"We have a bunch of kids looking up to us," Vilma says. "I remember when I was a kid, looking up to Jerry Rice."

To maintain his image, Vilma says he tries to stay away from potentially troublesome situations. One of his favorite retreats? Poker in Manhattan.

Every week or so, Vilma ventures into the city to play cards in a poker den, a members-only club that attracts celebrities and serious gamblers looking to avoid crowded casinos. More than a year ago, Alex Rodriguez made headlines for frequenting these establishments, where it is legal to play poker but against the law for the house to profit.

Playing poker legally isn't a violation of league policy, according to NFL spokesman Greg Aiello. But some might question Vilma's association with the clubs, considering the perception it might create because of the raids and robberies the clubs occasionally face, although he says he doesn't see any downside. He views it as a winning situation - even when he loses.

"They told us to stay out of trouble and that's the best way to stay out of trouble," he says. "I'm inside, I can't get into trouble, I can't get hurt, I'm just playing cards."

Unlike A-Rod, who initially refused to comment on his involvement, Vilma openly discussed his jaunts to poker dens. He says he isn't worried that it will raise questions.

"I would hope not," he says. "Anybody who likes to play poker, if you want to find a good poker game, you're going to go play. It's not anything where I'm betting the house, like $100,000. You go, kick back, have fun, talk to some of the fans, enjoy it. I like playing poker. It's like playing basketball, but you can't do that (because of potential injuries)."

Vilma says he plays when he's bored, heading into Manhattan "maybe once a week, once every two weeks." To him, it's akin to shooting baskets or playing video games at the ESPN Zone.

The Jets weren't particularly expansive when asked to comment on Vilma's poker playing, releasing a statement that said, "We were unaware of this situation. The New York Jets support the league's stance on gambling."

Vilma said the team has addressed the matter with him, but declined to reveal what was said.

Many of the city's poker dens are sleek and inviting, although they're vulnerable to holdups because of the amount of cash on the premises. Thursday night a slick high-end parlor on E. 61st called National CardRoom was knocked off to the tune of $50,000. Making it even more enticing is the fact would-be robbers know the owners of these halls aren't going to call the police because their poker dens are illegal.

And there are the occasional raids - National was busted as recently as 2005 - which would be embarrassing for a professional athlete.

"There's never been an incident when I've been there," says Vilma, who, according to poker sources, is a terrific card player.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/fo...isky_hand.html

Re: Raid on NYC clubs underway right now.
 

This is a photo of National, which was robbed and raided last week, as shown in the Daily News.

http://www.nydailynews.com/img/2007/..._pokerroom.jpg

Re: Raid on NYC clubs underway right now.
 

I don't understand - what is the point of this? Merely a power play? Do they not have anything better to do?

This is definitely a drawback to life in NYC - at least in MN I could go and gamble whenever I wanted without having to travel 2.5 hours to get to a casino...

Atlantic City it is I guess... [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

Re: Raid on NYC clubs underway right now.
 

That Vilma article was from this past Sunday.

This is very annoying. I hate having to deal with this nonsense when I just want to play some poker. AC and Foxwoods will have to become more integral trips, I suppose. Though I know of a few small places that nobody will care about...they don't run that high, but they're still good and much better than nothing.

Re: Raid on NYC clubs underway right now.
 

[ QUOTE ]
I don't understand - what is the point of this? Merely a power play? Do they not have anything better to do?

This is definitely a drawback to life in NYC - at least in MN I could go and gamble whenever I wanted without having to travel 2.5 hours to get to a casino...


[/ QUOTE ]

I think the robbery last week (along with the public comment by at least one politician) put a lot of pressure on the police to shut down the clubs they knew about. If another robbery happened and it was said the police had already been informed (like was said about the National), the proverbial sh*t would hit the fan.

The scum from last week not only took my cash, they have forced the police department's hand in dealing with the other larger clubs.

Re: Raid on NYC clubs underway right now.
 

More on last night....

The cops sliced all of the felt tables and the carpeting in the front room. All of the chips were removed and some players even arrested for having similar names as other people who had bench warrants out for them. This is now the 3rd time a raid has happened in NYC when I have been there that day and left prior...

Re: Raid on NYC clubs underway right now.
 

[ QUOTE ]
More on last night....

The cops sliced all of the felt tables and the carpeting in the front room. All of the chips were removed and some players even arrested for having similar names as other people who had bench warrants out for them. This is now the 3rd time a raid has happened in NYC when I have been there that day and left prior...

[/ QUOTE ]

Bloomberg (or Giuliani) won't get my vote for President, and I don't even live in New York. What a travesty in what is supposed to be the Land of the Free.

Re: Raid on NYC clubs underway right now.
 

were there two clubs hit last night or just the one in Chelsea?

Re: Raid on NYC clubs underway right now.
 

[ QUOTE ]
More than 100 people inside at the time. Gamblers arrested.

[/ QUOTE ]

It's well documented playing poker isn't illegal. Collecting the rake/time is. Players are only arrested are for warrants, drugs, etc.

Did they in fact lock up everyone in the place? Can't see that.

Re: Raid on NYC clubs underway right now.
 

[ QUOTE ]
Making it even more enticing is the fact would-be robbers know the owners of these halls aren't going to call the police because their poker dens are illegal.

[/ QUOTE ]

An incorrect assumption. Of course when the police perform the armed robbery themselves...

Re: Raid on NYC clubs underway right now.
 

And so close on the heels of all the speculation on Mayor Bloomberg's potential run for the Presdiency. What a coincidence. [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

Re: Raid on NYC clubs underway right now.
 

nah just the dealers/floor..

Re: Raid on NYC clubs underway right now.
 

***********edited********* don't discuss security.

Re: Raid on NYC clubs underway right now.
 

not sure but id doubt that they did

Re: Raid on NYC clubs underway right now.
 

I was there until 9:30 and didn't see any commotion. This fits the profile of the typical NYC raid: on a Thursday night, after 10:00. I have never seen the club so full, every seat at every table was occupied and there were full 15/30 O8 and 10/20 LHE HK games running.

Re: Raid on NYC clubs underway right now.
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
More on last night....

The cops sliced all of the felt tables and the carpeting in the front room. All of the chips were removed and some players even arrested for having similar names as other people who had bench warrants out for them. This is now the 3rd time a raid has happened in NYC when I have been there that day and left prior...

[/ QUOTE ]

Bloomberg (or Giuliani) won't get my vote for President, and I don't even live in New York. What a travesty in what is supposed to be the Land of the Free.

[/ QUOTE ]

Bloomberg is a confirmed poker player, he plays in the Bahamas and hosts a game on his boat. Unfortunately Bloomberg doesn't control the police or the DA's office, they are independent. Also he cannot change state law. Don't blame him, the guy has nothing to do with the state of NYC poker.

Gulliani on the other hand used the raid on Mayfair as a political tool. He is scum.

Re: Raid on NYC clubs underway right now.
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
More than 100 people inside at the time. Gamblers arrested.

[/ QUOTE ]

It's well documented playing poker isn't illegal. Collecting the rake/time is. Players are only arrested are for warrants, drugs, etc.


[/ QUOTE ]

Actually thats an improperly documented fact. Profiting from gambling is illegal in NY State, but they chose not to prosecute the player. So technically if you lose while playing your ok, if you win while playing your breaking the law. A lawyer like TMTTR can explain further, this is only my layman's explanation.

Re: Raid on NYC clubs underway right now.
 

[ QUOTE ]
Bloomberg is a confirmed poker player, he plays in the Bahamas and hosts a game on his boat. Unfortunately Bloomberg doesn't control the police or the DA's office, they are independent. Also he cannot change state law. Don't blame him, the guy has nothing to do with the state of NYC poker.

Gulliani on the other hand used the raid on Mayfair as a political tool. He is scum.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'll second that.

Re: Raid on NYC clubs underway right now.
 

there is a lot of static right now between bloomberg's peeps and guiliani's peeps.

it would not be beyond the scope of reason to wonder if guiliani's camp orchestrated this specifically to distract resources from bloomberg's nascent run for pres.

Re: Raid on NYC clubs underway right now.
 

[ QUOTE ]
I was there until 9:30 and didn't see any commotion. This fits the profile of the typical NYC raid: on a Thursday night, after 10:00. I have never seen the club so full, every seat at every table was occupied and there were full 15/30 O8 and 10/20 LHE HK games running.

[/ QUOTE ]

I specifically didn't go play last night because of this. The combination of the robbery thread last week and the Limit King blog made this look like a sure bet. Unsurprising and sucky.

Re: Raid on NYC clubs underway right now.
 

[ QUOTE ]
it would not be beyond the scope of reason to wonder if guiliani's camp orchestrated this specifically to distract resources from bloomberg's nascent run for pres.

[/ QUOTE ]

To 95% of the population, this does not make Bloomberg look like a worse mayor. It makes him look better to everyone who only knows about underground clubs from the slanted information carried in the press after busts and robberies. This has only to do with what happened last week.

Re: Raid on NYC clubs underway right now.
 

[ QUOTE ]
there is a lot of static right now between bloomberg's peeps and guiliani's peeps.

it would not be beyond the scope of reason to wonder if guiliani's camp orchestrated this specifically to distract resources from bloomberg's nascent run for pres.

[/ QUOTE ]

sorry, this is ridiculous if you think its true. You have been watching the movie conspiracy theory a bit too much? Nobody who operates a poker room in NYC believes that.

Re: Raid on NYC clubs underway right now.
 

It is interesting, I was there on Monday and Wednesday and on Wed, it was all people could talk about. how the national got hit, what was being done to protect this club, who was next, etc.
I guess the question of if/when it will re-open or not can't be answered yet???

Anyone know if the sister club was shut down as well?

Re: Raid on NYC clubs underway right now.
 

[ QUOTE ]
It is interesting, I was there on Monday and Wednesday and on Wed, it was all people could talk about. how the national got hit, what was being done to protect this club, who was next, etc.
I guess the question of if/when it will re-open or not can't be answered yet???

Anyone know if the sister club was shut down as well?

[/ QUOTE ]

They wont be reopening, that is confirmed. The "sisters are not happy"

Re: Raid on NYC clubs underway right now.
 

[ QUOTE ]

Actually thats an improperly documented fact. Profiting from gambling is illegal in NY State, but they chose not to prosecute the player. So technically if you lose while playing your ok, if you win while playing your breaking the law. A lawyer like TMTTR can explain further, this is only my layman's explanation.

[/ QUOTE ]

[Lawyer on]

You are a little off, TT. I don't have the time to look it up right now, but "profiting from gambling" does not mean winning bets. Profiting from gambling is explicitly defined as making money from organizing and running the gambling operations (or assisting in organizing/running, i.e. dealing).

As far as I can tell, while gambling is forbidden by the Constitution of the State of New York (with a variety of exceptions built in -- horse racing, state lotteries, etc.), the only statute that sets a penalty for gambling is the loitering law. The loitering law makes it illegal to stay in one place for the purpose of gambling. The maximum penalty for that is a fine of $100 (and the statute may be unconstitutional).

At the same time, because gambling is "illegal" by the constitution, if you were ripped off by a poker room or wanted to try and get the money back that was confiscated during a poker raid, you would not have much of a chance.

[Lawyer off]

Re: Raid on NYC clubs underway right now.
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
More than 100 people inside at the time. Gamblers arrested.

[/ QUOTE ]

It's well documented playing poker isn't illegal. Collecting the rake/time is. Players are only arrested are for warrants, drugs, etc.

Did they in fact lock up everyone in the place? Can't see that.

[/ QUOTE ]

13 people were arrested. Players were only arrested if they had warrants outstanding. Some players were detained longer than the rest because they did not have ID on them.

Anyone who thinks this has any implication for the presidential race or that Bloomberg had a hand in orchestrating this raid has no clue about politics or the operations of NYC. This is a blip on the radar.

Re: Raid on NYC clubs underway right now.
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
there is a lot of static right now between bloomberg's peeps and guiliani's peeps.

it would not be beyond the scope of reason to wonder if guiliani's camp orchestrated this specifically to distract resources from bloomberg's nascent run for pres.

[/ QUOTE ]

sorry, this is ridiculous if you think its true. You have been watching the movie conspiracy theory a bit too much? Nobody who operates a poker room in NYC believes that.

[/ QUOTE ]

im not saying "i think its true", im am most certainly saying that NYC politics is sub-cesspool and anyone who thinks the above scenario is too fantastic to be possible (not plausible but possible) might be said to be out of touch with contemporary politics.

lets discuss this again when the commercials air featuring a menacing synth wash behind a slow zoom on a black and white image of bloomberg with the voice over;

"in 2007, the authorities in NYC took down several major organized poker rings, responsible for over 50 million dollars a year.

and where was bloomberg? he was on his yacht, ORGANIZING HIS OWN PRIVATE GAMBLING PARTIES USING MONEY PAID TO HIM BY THE TAXPAYERS OF THIS STATE!

(image solarizes quickly with his eyes glowing bright red).

rudy guilliani; bringing integrity back to politics."

etc etc.

Re: Raid on NYC clubs underway right now.
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
there is a lot of static right now between bloomberg's peeps and guiliani's peeps.

it would not be beyond the scope of reason to wonder if guiliani's camp orchestrated this specifically to distract resources from bloomberg's nascent run for pres.

[/ QUOTE ]

sorry, this is ridiculous if you think its true. You have been watching the movie conspiracy theory a bit too much? Nobody who operates a poker room in NYC believes that.

[/ QUOTE ]

im not saying "i think its true", im am most certainly saying that NYC politics is sub-cesspool and anyone who thinks the above scenario is too fantastic to be possible (not plausible but possible) might be said to be out of touch with contemporary politics.

lets discuss this again when the commercials air featuring a menacing synth wash behind a slow zoom on a black and white image of bloomberg with the voice over;

"in 2007, the authorities in NYC took down several major organized poker rings, responsible for over 50 million dollars a year.

and where was bloomberg? he was on his yacht, ORGANIZING HIS OWN PRIVATE GAMBLING PARTIES USING MONEY PAID TO HIM BY THE TAXPAYERS OF THIS STATE!

(image solarizes quickly with his eyes glowing bright red).

rudy guilliani; bringing integrity back to politics."

etc etc.

[/ QUOTE ]

With all due respect, you are clueless.

Poker in New York is so inconsequential to the grand scheme of events. You are also completely out of touch with the relationship Giuliani had with the Police. If you were aware of that relationship, you would know that Giuliani had nothing to do with any of this. You are even less aware of Bloomberg's relationship with the city -- i.e., he doesn't take a salary and reimbuses the city frequently for things that may be considered "personal." He is a billionaire. There is a small possibility that Bloomberg was aware of the raid, but it is not something he focuses on.

Re: Raid on NYC clubs underway right now.
 

[ QUOTE ]

With all due respect, you are clueless.

Poker in New York is so inconsequential to the grand scheme of events. You are also completely out of touch with the relationship Giuliani had with the Police. If you were aware of that relationship, you would know that Giuliani had nothing to do with any of this. You are even less aware of Bloomberg's relationship with the city -- i.e., he doesn't take a salary and reimbuses the city frequently for things that may be considered "personal." He is a billionaire. There is a small possibility that Bloomberg was aware of the raid, but it is not something he focuses on.

[/ QUOTE ]

im clueless because the imaginary hit-piece commercial i spouted off as a joke wasnt an accurate representation of the polisocial climate in contemporary manhattan?

nh sir, youre the man.