Illinois Poker Bust Demonstrates Diverse Thoughts On Both Sides Of Home Game Issue

A recent raid on what law enforcement officials in Illinois called a “pay to play” poker game in Illinois demonstrates the divisiveness of the “home game” issue and the activity of law enforcement investigating the supposed illegal enterprise.

In an article in the Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette written by Mary Schenk, the full details are given on what Champaign police called a “low-level” raid on the poker game. After a complaint from a local citizen four months ago, the Champaign authorities investigated the complaint and found that the poker game was a weekly affair. Last week, the police obtained a warrant and raided the establishment in question.

Instead of a high impact, SWAT-style assault, Champaign police simply assembled a group of patrol officers and knocked on the door last Wednesday (January 11). After no one responded to the knock, police found that the door was unlocked and entered the establishment. Upon entering, the police found thirteen people sitting around, but no poker apparently in action.

In the same calm manner that the raid was conducted, the players – while surprised by the arrival of law enforcement officials – were genial in their conduct. After everyone was patted down, Champaign police seized $3000 in cash from the players, poker tables, cards, chips and two televisions in the establishment. Also found by the police were ledgers of action that had previously occurred.

The thirteen players in the game ranged in age from 27 to 73 and featured three women. Twelve of the players were cited for misdemeanor charges of gambling, while one person who was found to be operating the game was cited for a second misdemeanor charge of keeping a gambling establishment.

While this particular poker bust lacks the panache of some more strong armed enforcement maneuvers – in which authorities raided a poker game as if it were a meeting of a drug cartel – the comments on the story by citizens of Illinois reflect the diverse thoughts that people have in the usage of law enforcement against “home” poker games.

Since the announcement of the arrests earlier this week, there have been 23 posts on the News-Gazette website debating the issue. The first poster, ‘sameeker,’ stated, “That’s right, just a bunch of guys getting together for a weekly card game…the police have nothing better to do, like stopping crime in Campustown.” Another poster, ‘jdmac44,’ agreed in posting, “The horror…consenting adults gathering peaceably on one of their own properties to engage in an activity of their choosing.”

After several postings that agreed with the original poster, another voice was heard from. Poster ‘Jsmith68’ came down on the other side of the issue, stating, “I am a bit confused by the comments. The police are being bashed for doing their jobs…they received a complaint and acted on it.” ‘Asparagus’ echoed the thoughts, writing, “I’m glad the police did their job. Sounds like a fairly well handled affair. I sure would not want an operation like this in my neighborhood.”

Several respondents to the article point out that a simple drive can take care of the business of playing poker in Illinois. Inside the state, there are nine different casinos in operation and surrounding states, such as Missouri, Iowa and Indiana, also offer poker and gaming outlets. But perhaps the best view of the poker raid was written by ‘theSane,’ who opined, “The police did nothing wrong, but society was not made better and Champaign was not made safer by this bust. It was a waste of man hours/overtime.”

Most every state has laws against a person taking a “rake” or time charge for players who play at their home poker games (once this is done, it normally enters into the realm of illegal gambling). But the discussion of whether to involve authorities – and commit significant amounts of manpower, investigation and apprehension – towards home poker gatherings will be a question that will continue to be debated.