The armed robbery of what looks like probably a 5/10 game was the lead story on KXAN\’s 6 pm broadcast … and they spoke to longtime friend of Pokerati (and Texas state director of the PPA) Lavigne in Austin about the robbery at the Gaines Ranch Apartments for the skinny on what\’s really at stake with these masked gunmen poker things:
\”From what I understand, investigators are at a stalemate,\” said Commander Chris Noble with APD\’s organized crime division. \”The victim is not being cooperative.\”
But, Mike Lavigne, the Texas State Director for the Poker Players Alliance , blames antiquated laws for the robbers\’ success and the unsolved crimes.
\”A lot of times people don\’t even call the cops if these places get busted by a thief because it\’s not legal for them to be necessarily running that room in the first place,\” Lavigne said.
[…]
\”It\’s not seen as a crime in most parts of the world,\” said Lavigne. \”It just happens to be the leftovers from some old laws in Texas. It\’s not clear what\’s legal or illegal in our state right now.\”
UPDATE: Here\’s the video: