Another raid - this time in North Carolina. Big names busted.

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In early August, Operation Empty Pockets netted 64 video-poker machines from more than 60 locations, including many private homes.

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Oh the humanity. Can you imagine that there are actually people out there that play video poker against themselves in their own living room! This must be stopped!

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North Carolina is really strict when it comes to video poker.

The law, if I remember correctly from my time living there, is that there's an allowable maximum prize of $10 in value.

And let me tell you, the politicians and police in the state had and still have a hard-on (for lack of a better term) when it comes to shutting down any and all illegal video poker operations, even ones that would be run from private homes. They make a big deal out of making sure that maximum prize doesn't exceed $10.

This bust is huge because North Carolina is, again, really strict when it comes to gambling. They only started up a state lottery and brought in Powerball last year after many years of deliberation while millions of potential revenue went across state borders to play Big Game (Virginia) and Powerball (South Carolina).

Any hope of any other form of gambling being made legal in NC is pretty much a lost cause for quite some time. Harrah's has the Cherokee Casino in West NC near Ashville, but that's on a reservation, and all it has are video machine (video BJ, video roulette, etc.).

NC is pretty much a poker desert oasis. The closest legal action for all intents and purposes are 10 hours away north and west - AC and Tunica.

Looking at the addresses of the people listed in the complaint (saw it in NVG), people were driving 2+ hours to this game. Normally pretty crazy, but when it's the only game around...