DALLAS–Man, I thought we were done with the legal proceedings from the first big poker raid in Dallas (June 2006) … and almost done with the trials stemming from the subsequent triple-raid (November 2006). But learned that charges against another dealer from Aces were thrown out just last week — as they should be … but are we done yet?

Go insufficient evidence!

LAS VEGAS–Word spreading to the Pacific time zone is that a big batch of misdemeanor cases from the made-for-TV paramilitary poker raid on Aces have been dismissed. Can anyone verify the truth to this?

Over at The Agitator, they’ve got a firsthand account from someone mis-arrested during the June Aces raid. (Thanks, Jason, for the link.) If you recall, that was the poker room busted in cahoots with the A&E network … only to have the tapes from that episode of Dallas SWAT mysteriously disappear.

Bear in mind that, prior to police entering, the place was virtually quiet. There was the sound of poker chips in the air, but not much else. The players were essentially professionals and working stiffs having fun…there were doctors, lawyers, accountants, and other professionals. There was hardly anything “dangerous” about the place at all. In fact, the cops found no weapons in the facility or on anyone there. The show of force and weaponry brought by the cops was simply outrageous and unjustified, given the circumstances, but, then again, are they enforcing the law or making a TV show?

[...]

Despite the abject mistruths in the police report, I was still confident the tapes would help me. We finally got our subpoena response. Guess what? According to Granada Entertainment, there wasn’t any videotape of the event. All of the tapes had been recorded over, and there simply wasn’t any tape available. Two camera crews and helmet cams on the SWAT guys and not one single inch of tape existed.

It’s a lengthy report, but definitely worth the read (especially if you happen to have a poker case pending) — particularly because this guy had nothing to do with poker … he was simply helping out in the kitchen because the main food lady had an injured hand. Even as a non-poker player, this guy was able to call down the Assistant District Attorney on his bluff (literally!) when he said during the plea bargain that they had video of the defendant at the tables.

All charges ended up being dropped (even the ones for possession of marijuana and a pipe, which were actually found on him) — as has been the case for all poker cases where defendants have insisted on a jury trial.

No word on whether or not any charges will be filed against the the city of Dallas or agents of Granada Entertainment (the forces behind Dallas SWAT) for destruction of evidence, or perhaps more aptly, lying about destruction of evidence.

Go Poker!

ALT HED: Why We Play (Legally Questionable) Poker, Part 2

A fresh comment on a relatively old post about a Dallas poker raid caught my eye … seemed relevant in light of discussions we’ve been having about police activity in other Texas poker scenes. In it, the accused houseguy makes claims of borderline abusive behavior from police — smacking an 83-year-old man in the back with the butt of a rifle, for example.

Nothing Rodney King-like, but still, pain-addled nuisances that might kinda should be expected when dealing with armed enforcers charged with putting a scare into a semi-criminal subculture.

Three Dallas rooms got raided tonight. Jackie’s, JB’s, and Ace-High. SWAT teams, machine guns, arrests, and TV news cameras. I suspect some folks will be getting out of jail soon. Feel free to be in touch. Especially people who may have snapped pictures with their cell phones. Pokerati will continue to post as we find out information, so check back for updates.

The “dallas poker raids” tag will carry the latest.

I suspect you’ll also find some good information at the Weston Poker Forum.

This seems to be the second big blow to the Dallas poker scene. The first one being the Aces raid in June … and then the Dallas SWAT team sat back, let the Dallas scene regroup before … pop-pop-pop! Fortunately, no one got killed.

For some recent discourse on the status of the original Aces cases, click here.

Eee.

Just watched my first full episode of Dallas SWAT. It took more than a dozen officers, lots of machine guns, and a mini-tank to bust a poker player. Not really … he was actually a methamphetamines dealer who set up shop across the street from an elementary school. But when the heavily armored 5-0 charged in, they caught the chief suspect off-guard, as he was playing online poker at the time. Dude is likely kicking himself if he was playing on a table without disconnect-protect.

But it made me wonder … have we missed the Aces raid episode? Might it have ended up on the cutting-room floor? I’ve been a bit out of the local loop lately … so any updates on where the various Aces court cases stand would be appreciated. I hope they didn’t decide to axe this hotly anticipated scene because there weren’t enough recognizable pros at the final table.

So Party’s pulling out, and so is PokerStars … Pacific Poker is out but Paradise Poker is staying put (for now). Is it just me, or does all this remind you a lot of the (temporary) implosion of the Dallas poker scene earlier this year?

More on the online poker “crisis” here.

Another item from Pokerati's "lost archives": Here's an interview done on Hold'em Radio's "Beyond the Table" with a Dallas underground poker room operator. This took place on May 10, shortly before the Aces raid (and subsequent fallout). Have a listen — plenty of irony abounds.

MP3 File

NOTE: This recording is on the lengthy side. While it often is easier (and fun!) to just click the embedded player, if you’d like to listen while reading Pokerati and other sites, you are probably better off clicking the “mp3 file” link … which will open up the file in another window (or tab, if that is your choice).

LAS VEGAS–Just getting word that a game got raided recently (like days ago, maybe?) in Highland Village. From the sounds of it, it was a home game … (or maybe a “home game”?) … with a little money taken out of the pot to pay for food and drinks. Could this be the case that brings the concept of rake to a real legal test?

Here’s what I know, thanks to an email from Sang in Dallas:

Dan I know you’re busy, but the local news had a story of how Highland Village cops busted a guy’s house to bust up a poker game. I think there was a rake, but he claims it went for food and drinks. The cops confiscated about 8 grand in cash and everyone went to jail. Highland Village is right north of Lewisville and a fairly affluent suburb. I think the channel was channel 11, pretty sure it wasn’t channel 8.

Thanks, Sang, for the on-the-couch reporting. Nothing’s up on Channel 11’s site yet (but that’s normal, I think). Perhaps some of the people who were there — cops, you are welcome to comment, too! — will fill us in on what all went down. In the meantime, here’s the story they ran on the Aces raid.

(Everybody loves to see poker on TV!)

UPDATE: Here’s the link to the Channel 8 story. Watch the story and you’ll notice a chip tray suggesting there was indeed a rake of some sort … and Jimmy Ray Everett admits as much. But at the same time, this was hardly a major “poker room.” This could be a very relevant case — cops busting into a private home where people are engaged in social gambling (which is legal) and freely choosing to take some money out of the pot to pay for snacks (which may or may not be illegal, but right now probably is) — if someone chooses to make it so.

At the last charity tourney I played, I sat next to a Richardson cop who explained to me why taking money out of a pot to buy pizza for a home game is NOT illegal. I believed him until this story emerged.

Word of the SWAT-team poker raid in Dallas is making the rounds. The Daily Kos took note, as well as a few other political websites. Cool. And most recently, I came across this from the CATO institute. Just to set the record straight, they have one thing wrong in their reporting of Pokerati’s reporting: The cops didn’t come in with computer-generated maps of the entire Dallas underground … they came in with printouts of tables and chairs. Reason magazine got it more correct.

(Don’t the cops realize they could license the exclusive rights to those photocopies to CardPlayer!?!)

Apparently the non-poker people are concerned about the militarization of our police forces. They probably should be equally concerned about business relationships between police and for-profit media entertainent companies, particularly when ratings may or may not play a role in enforcement decisions. After all, poker is hot … but you know what else is also hot? Sex. Think of all those outdated sodomy laws (you know, the kind that would make Bill Clinton a felon in Mississippi). Well, poker laws are outdated, too … but hey, legal is as legal does if it’s gonna make great TV, right?

Today, by the way, the Poker Players Alliance is holding a rally at the Rio. Should be interesting.

LAS VEGAS–Sorry for the lack of posts … have been particularly busy with various other criminally questionable? sweet gigs. I know a lot of folks have been visiting — as I do monitor my traffic now and again to learn things about you (sickos) … and one particular recent visitor from Washington DC caught my eye.

Apparently word of the Aces/Dallas SWAT raid has made its way to the DOJ. So either government officials are starting to note the concerns of its poker citizenry, or are planning for a military takeover of poker blogs. Either way, G-men, welcome to Pokerati. Take your shoes off and make yourself at home. While you’re at it, you might also want to check out The Fat Guy. Also, totally unrelated, just wondering … do they have wi-fi in prison?

(Pronounced: IN-stah-WHOA-sop.)

LAS VEGAS–So wow … I’ve arrived in Vegas, checked in at Rio media center, and haven’t watched a single hand of poker. Yet there’s already so much to report on. Where do I begin?

First of all, the numbers are clearly bigger this year. This is evident in the parking lot. The Rio parking lot wasn’t this full last year until a few days before the main event. They also have valet parking this year.

As we speak, JOE HACHEM is at a final table with DUTCH BOYD in the $2,500 6-handed NLHE event. But am I even allowed to report that? Dutch is the big stack. He may or may not have at some point played an ace.

UPDATE: Hachem and Boyd are heads-up. Good poker battles right from the git-go. Sorry we can’t live-blog it. OTIS has some decent updates going on.

RE-UPDATE: Boyd just pushed all-in with A5, Hachem called with AQ, Dutch caught his card (and his bracelet) on the river.

OLIVER TSE pointed out earlier this morning that if Dutch wins, a lot of folks would like their money back … and it’s time for ESPN to address the POKERSPOT.COM issue.

Oliver’s forum posts were not met kindly by the corporate Harrah’s folks. PR Honcho GARY THOMPSON called Oliver in for a private meeting. “I was just taken to the woodshed,” Oliver says.

Upon being told he is not supposed to post anything negative about ESPN, Oliver was challenged (by Thompson, I believe, but am not sure), “Are you a journalist … or are you a blogger?” The ESPN/Harrah’s suits (who have their own internal tiff going on) are apparently under the impression that bloggers are rabblerousers, and journalists get their stuff cleared by PR directors before they publish. Amusing, no?

There’s NO SMOKING inside the Rio Convention Center this year — even in the corridors.

A FIRE ALARM went off today. While it left a handful of media guys locked out of the media center, the games kept going with hardly a pause. A few players and dealers looked up in an effort ot listen to the voice giving instructions, but when it became evident that they could hardly make out what she was saying, play carried on unfazed.

Bic is the official lighter of the WSOP.

The MEDIA CENTER is bigger and better this year. But it’s farther away from the action.

The food is way better — and acceptably priced. ($6 for a half-pound ANGUS BURGER, with two slices — two slices! — of cheese.) All this action is going down in the POKER KITCHEN. You know, part of my poker dream has long included seeing the phrase “in your kitchen” added to the poker vernacular. I guess this is close … but still, the kitchen has yet to reach the level of stature as “the hammer.”

Bathroom situation: also vastly improved — plenty of places to pee.

A lot more slutties scantily clad women hired to sell stuff milling around here, too. The SAPPHIRE strip club has a booth at the WSOP.

A lot of media seems to be on tilt. There’s even talk of an internet blackout day and legal action against CardPlayer. The phrases “First Amendment” and “tortius interference” keep coming up. But some of the more experienced journalists (from a non-poker-media background) are just going about their jobs. After all, it’s just poker … not a GULF WAR.

My new favorite place — the MILWAUKEE’S BEST LIGHT GARAGE. It’s outside “across the street” from The Kitchen … like a sports bar … with lots of crappy-but-cold beer, cushy leather chairs, a convenient smoking area, a pool table, tires, mufflers, funny signs, and get this … three DART BOARDS. Alas, they are soft-tip, not bristle. But beggars can’t be choosers, right? If someone wants to bring a real dart board, perhaps we can convince them to let us put it up put it up without anyone noticing the change.

CLONIE cashed in one of the three events she has played thus far.

Eavesdropping on an attractive young blonde talking with an old man of noticeable heft; she was wearing lacey panties. Their conversation began with discussion casinos in SHREVEPORT and OKLAHOMA, and soon turned to “a bust in Dallas” at “a place called ACES.”

We’re not the only poker people talking about what’s going on in Dallas …

Over at Weston, talk of what went down at Aces has devolved into semi-intelligent discussion of poker laws.

2+2 seems more interested in the TV show than the book.

At RGP everything seems very matter-of-fact.

Word has trickled out to East Texas, where Shreveport suddenly becomes a lot closer.

And over at CardPlayer, everything is hunky-dory and they don’t have much to say.

“Dallas Attorney” posts an interesting piece of non-binding legal advice in his comment about the 80-or-so Dallas pokerers who now face legal ramifications for playing the game. I totally agree — and encourage all to plea not-guilty and insist on a jury trial — but:

Do what your paid for, protect the citizens of Dallas.

I don’t think that’s necessarily fair to the DPD. When the Pinnacle got robbed, Dallas police were alerted to the potential for violence around all the money in a Dallas poker game. So they start nosing around and — shocked at how easy it is to infiltrate — see that it’s not just a bunch of grizzled thugs playing in a dark room. Instead, you have upwards of 100 people — regular working folks, men and women, all races, fat and thin, parents with children … clearly, not your criminal sort.

And yet day after day, all around town, these nice poker people gather en masse to play this great social game that doesn’t really cost them much money but gives them a chance to win a relative ton, while catching the occasional adrenaline rush. Fun!

And ripe for an armed robbery … you know how easy it is for a violent crime (particularly one that starts on the internet) to go awry. DPD has raided only one game. And it just so happened to be one of the biggest, most open, easiest to get into … in a terrible part of town, no less …

If the cops didn’t bust in with their guns a-blazin’ to scare the piss out of 8 tables of poker players and leave with $40,000 … really, in retrospect, wasn’t it only a matter of time before someone else did?

Got an email from Aces … and though I am pretty sure about 85 percent of all Pokerati readers have received the same email two or three times already:

Thank you for your patronage.

First off, we would like to welcome the DPD and SWAT to the list. I hope you enjoyed the action. BTW, do you have as many cops looking for this missing two year old as you sent over last night? Well, it was fun while it lasted and while it sucks for us, this has been going for 30+ years and will be for the next 30+.

Lastly, we are asking our players if they know a poker/vice friendly and experienced attorney. We have a few poker friendly lawyers but we are really looking for one with extensive non-drug vice defense experience. Asian tan, 8 liner etc type of cases.

Sincerely,

Aces

Indeed, lawyers, it’s time to step up. Yes, we know you already give plenty to the game in the form of rebuys … but what you do here/now could have a real impact on your ability to donkey off chips in the future.

I’m not ready to declare the sky on Dallas poker falling, but it has for certain turned rather green. (Look, over there! I think it’s a wall cloud!) With the Channel 8 “expose” and the Dallas SWAT raid … there’s one other piece of info I heard recently that might also fit into the picture. Just a few days ago, a well-connected Omaha player witnessed a raid on an 8-liner room in Dallas. Cops hauled off a truckload of machines. Not sure on the location (ever wonder why there is no GuinnessandEightliner or Tao of Video Poker?), but I seem to recall hearing that there were some arrests.

Also heard that two other rooms were raided Saturday night … but I am starting to doubt that, because games are still running around town and the only buzz is “Aces.”

Some finer details, from a reliable firsthand source:

• 12-15 SWAT guys, carrying M16s and MP5s. Most of them were professional and courteous in their show of overwhelming force, but there were “a couple macho SWAT-type assholes.”
• 15-20 more uniformed officers followed behind them.
• 3 or 4 film-crew girls. Two of them were kinda cute.
• The tourney was recently broken down to 7 tables of 9 right before the bust.
• Upon being searched, some players had to put their entire bankrolls onto the table. Even those with a few thousand or more were allowed to keep all their money … unlike the case in the McKinney raid. (This might suggest the cops were going out of their way to not do anything that might jeopardize the credibility of whatever case the DA may or may not bring.)
• The police had a computer-generated form, specifically designed for poker room raids. It was a chart of a poker table, with seats 1-10 numbered correctly … and as they went around ID’ing each player, they noted the individual’s position at the table and possibly the size of his or her chipstack.
• At least 1 Rounder Club dealer was arrested.

Seriously, all this should make for really good TV.

ALT HED: True Texas Poker?

Some basics trickling in: Raid went down about 9 pm. Aces was in the middle of an 8-table tourney … with a few tables of cash games and sit-n-go’s running. About 10 people got carted away in handcuffs — dealers and room operators — and close to 70 or 80 players (# not confirmed) got $125 $150 $145 tickets. And there were two sets of cameras … one belonging to the show “Dallas SWAT” (on A&E), the other apperently the DPD’s own video equipment.

So to some extent, poker’s popularity on TV had much to do with this bust, as it will certainly be a ratings boon for the Dallas PD’s prize new show. Raises an interesting 21st Century question … about law enforcement driving TV vs. TV driving law enforcement.

Meanwhile, Dallas poker players are left wondering if they’ll receive 17 emails from Aces tomorrow telling us how hot the action is.

UPDATE: $40k reportedly got confiscated.