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Poker Under Fire In Ohio
A poker tournament in Vandalia, Ohio came to an abrupt end on Saturday as
police raided a tournament that was being held in the Celebrations Banquet
Center, at 3119 Stop Eight Road, behind the Fraternal Order of Police Lodges
that serves as a union Hall for Montgomery County sheriff’s deputies. The
Texas Hold’Em tournament was being held to raise money for a local softball
team, and Sgt. Dave Hale claims that the sheriff’s office has nothing to do
with the union hall or the operations of the FOP hall, and that officers of
the hall had no knowledge of the tournament.
Over $8,000 in cash was seized in the raid, along with gambling materials that
police say constitutes evidence. Authorities claimed that the tournament did not
meet the requirements of a legal charitable gambling event. They claim that the
softball team itself is not qualified to receive charitable monies under federal
tax law. Moreover, the facilities used to hold that event also does not qualify
under federal tax law as a suitable venue in which to hold a charitable gambling
event.
About 60 people were taking part in the event, but no charges were filed and no
arrests were made. Investigators believe that participants were unaware of the
legal problems of the event, and that the softball team members were likewise in
the dark. In addition to the $8,000 in cash, playing cards, gambling chips, and
tally sheets were seized. There has been no statement as of yet as to when the
participants of the tournament can expect to receive their confiscated money and
goods returned to them, although the officers in charge of the operation and the
Ohio Attorney General’s office both state that they believe the players to have
committed no crime knowingly.
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