Baltimore Poker Players Go Free

Filed in archive Poker on November 10, 2005

Its like your typical gambling story - one week you're up and the next you're down.

Last week, 80 poker players, 9 dealers and 4 managers were arrested when a Baltimore poker club got raided - the biggest raid since prohibition. The police seized $25,000 and over 16,000 poker chips. they faced a $1200 fine or up to a year in prison

Today, Baltimore prosecutors decided to drop the case. Apparantly, in raiding the club, the police cited an incorrect statute whilst charging the players.

Police charged the players under a subsection of law that states that a person may not "keep, rent, use or occupy" a building for the purpose of gambling. Another subsection - one that prohibits a "bet, wager or gamble" - should have been used, prosecutors said.

It seems it was easier to release the players than 'overburden the system'. I'm sure the players can live with that ruling

Article: Prosecutors drop charges in Md. poker raid