NEW JERSEY POKER RAID NETS 14 PEOPLE

22 June 2007

Membership fees and rake percentages the criteria for illegality

New Jersey state police, accompanied by local cops and members of the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Task Force busted a poker gambling operation in an Edison office building this week after a month long investigation, police announced.

Lt. Joseph Shannon told reporters that the illegal gambling operation, to which players were attracted by Internet and email marketing, had been in progress since March 2007. He said that the organisers made money by charging membership fees, together with a 10 percent share of the pots. Shannon said that some $3 000 in cash, together with a poker table, chips and computers were confiscated in the raid.

Two 23 year old men, believed to be the organisers were arrested and charged with promoting gambling, maintaining gambling records and maintenance of a gambling resort. One of them faces additional charges of possession of marijuana and of drug paraphernalia. The men were remanded on $50 000 bail each to a correction centre.

Three other men in their twenties were arrested for promoting gambling and released on their own recognisance.

Nine other adults were issued local ordinance summonses for gambling, Lt. Shannon revealed.

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