Billings GazzetteBillings Gazzette"Tom Oberweiser, district supervisor for the state Gambling Investigations Bureau, said his officers raided a warehouse at 3 a.m. Nov. 9 and seized poker tables and cash. "
I spoke with Tom by phone and although he could not speak about specifics of this case due to legal reasons, we did cover the important topics that are relevant. I first asked how law enforcement found out about the Poker game ? Oberweiser said that they had multiple tips, and suggested that they came from legal card room operators.
Oberweiser told me that they(the Law) were basically protecting Legal gambling. As far as state and local laws go here in Montana home poker games are fine and may actually enjoy some freedoms that liscensed card rooms dont have such as pot limits of $300 (id like to see that change). Where these poker enthusiast/entrepenures went wrong is that they were basically running a public business. I get the feeling that there may have been a rake and some form of dealer compensation. The game operator(s) allegedly recruited players from legal card rooms to play, and included after hours operation. after hours operation of a card room is legal in two cities in Montana, and both happen to be the college towns of Bozeman and Missoula.
There was no sting so to speak...no targeting of poker...by religous fanatics or poker haters...law officials were most likely tipped off by legal card room operators. Fellow poker players dropped the dime, WHY? aside from the obvious, after talking with a few local card room operators it is clear. "They stepped on toes" one anonymous source told me.
A card room liscense is about $150 for 1 table in Montana, it is how some people make a living. It is not a monumental undertaking or big burden to comply with the laws and have a legal game. I doubt if they will get jail time but I do hope they learn their lesson. This is clearly not a case of big brother squashing evil gaming or connected mafia poker/gambling eliminating the competition. This is probably some enthusiastic entrepenurial poker players getting ahead of themselves, and being careless.
The biggest problem that poker faces is legitamacy. We must embrace transparency and some kind of regulatory influence. sometimes we may disagree with the type of regulation...that is why we are members of PPA, we get involved. Our system may be flawed but we can make a difference. Thumbing your nose at people who follow the rules and run good games and the federal, state and local Law is sheer stupitity....and bad for Poker over all.
I am waiting on some calls that hopefully give me some more information....I will post anything I get here. please comment...Id like to know what you think!
Mike
State Director Montana
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