A thriving low-stakes poker room got a bit of a scare last night — when two unidentified visitors attempted to rob the joint at gunpoint. This comes as the state Legislature is considering a measure to legalize various forms of poker in Texas, in part to offer more protection for players. (For all you who were there and may or may not have shit in your pants … have you written your state representative yet?)
The (unconfirmed) story we\’re hearing about the attempted armed robbery …
It was reportedly about 11 pm, with at least two full tables of 1/2 action going strong when the two aspiring criminals showed up at the typical suburban office park locale and rang the telltale wireless poker-room buzzer. The manager thought he recognized one of the young 20something black guys as a semi-regular player, so he buzzed them through the first door. But when he went to greet them at the second door, he recognized neither, and apparently sometime in the seconds that followed, the dudes pulled out their weapons. A mini-scuffle ensued, but the manager was able to wrestle the security door shut before any shots were fired.
Not sure how long the wannabe thugs were trapped in the lobby. But amid the commotion, play halted … some players began shoving their chips in their pockets, others left their stacks on the table and scurried to a back room. Once the immediate threat was gone, a few players (and dealers?) began talking about going out to the parking lot and kicking some ass. That raised fears for some that perhaps the bad guys still might be waiting outside to score at least a little bank from a hapless winner walking back to his car.
The manager then voiced concern for any unlucky players who might just be arriving, unaware that a gun-wielding duo was somewhere in the vicinity and likely on tilt. The room operators couldn\’t really call police, of course. So eventually, after things had mostly settled … the games were ready to resume. Except at one table …
\”Where\’s our dealer?\” someone exclaimed.
She was apparently hiding in the kitchen … crouched down in a corner, in a garbage bag that she had crawled into and tied shut from the inside.